AUSTRALASIAN BIKER NEWS

 

 

Home Bike News Rides Other Stuff Events Tech Links

 

Big Dog lets pair of senior executives go

BY DAN VOORHIS

The Wichita Eagle

 

Troubled Big Dog Motorcycles let go two top executives this week.

The departures of Nick Messer, executive vice president for sales and new production, and Jim Moorman, chief of engineering, were effective Monday.

Company owner Sheldon Coleman Jr. informed employees of the departures and said the company would be restructured during a company meeting on Monday, said Paul Hansen, the company's vice president for marketing.

No other personnel moves were announced at the meeting, Hansen said.

Hansen said Coleman couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday. Messer didn't return messages seeking comment.

Big Dog, 1520 E. Douglas, has struggled with slow sales of its high-style, high-dollar motorcycles for at least two years.

The company announced 20 layoffs in May, along with layoffs last year, both times citing the slowing demand for its high-end motorcycles. It had about 300 employees as of last fall.

In an interview on May 20, Messer said the employee layoffs were the result of "basic economics."

At the time, he cited a troubled economy, the housing crisis -- which reduced the use of home equity to buy high-dollar items -- and the increasing credit standards for loans.

Market giant Harley-Davidson also has seen its sales fall and cut 8 percent of its work force last month.

Big Dog, Messer said last month, would continue its push into Canada and other international markets, as well as introduce two new models.

 

 

Back

HOME

 

 

 

 

 

Hit Counter