Patrick Puy called to head Go Sport
Patrick Puy, a turnaround specialist in the restructuring of companies in difficulty, is back in the clothing business. After having led the Vivarte group (then owner of La Halle, Naf Naf and André), from 2016 until it was dissolved in 2021, he is taking on the role of CEO of Go Sport from January 4, 2023. The financial situation of the Hermione People & Brands sporting goods chain is currently being examined by the Grenoble commercial court, which is due to give its decision on a possible suspension of payments on January 16.
Reporting to Wilhelm Hubner, the chairman of HPB, and Samuel Alimi, the vice-chairman, Puy will be replacing Benoît Verdier at the head of Go Sport, who left his post at the beginning of December.
In the course of his career, the interim manager was appointed in 2000 to head the Moulinex-Brandt group (which filed for bankruptcy a year later), took over the chairmanship of the management board of Arc International and founded the firm Alvarez & Marsal France. He was also called to head children's fashion group Kidiliz in 2020, and cosmetics specialist Alès Groupe, before founding the investment fund Equerre Capital Partners in 2021.
"His arrival - one year after the takeover of Go Sport by the HPB Group, which enabled a global strategic repositioning while preserving jobs - should enable the company to return to profit from 2023, after seventeen years of losses, and thus preserve the company in the long term," said Wilhelm Hubner in a statement.
During the hearing on December 19, Go Sport's auditors and an independent expert appointed by staff representatives informed the court that the company was in a state of suspension of payments. The management of HPB, which saw its clothing chain Camaïeu liquidated this autumn, had produced another independent report, declaring that it was not in default. The group had also requested the opening of a conciliation procedure, with the stated objective of selling Go Sport. What is the situation today, with this arrival?
"Patrick Puy, who is well versed in social dialogue within companies, will be particularly focused on strengthening the confidence of Go Sport employees, particularly following the false, unfounded or denigrating information that has recently been circulated," says the chain, which employs 2,160 people and relies on a network of 223 shops, 80 of which are owned by the company.
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