Peak Performance, the Swedish mountain sports brand, is making a key leadership change in Central Europe. Starting July 1, Rainer Fink will become Head of B2B for the region. He brings over 20 years of experience in premium sporting goods sales.
This appointment opens a new chapter for Peak Performance as the brand works to grow its presence in important European markets and build stronger ties with specialist retail partners.
Fink will take over from Martin Gaffal, who is leaving Peak Performance after nine years to start a new business in the fast-growing padel industry. Gaffal will stay on through August 2026 to help with the transition and support the Central European B2B team.
Rainer Fink brings a strong background in premium sportswear and performance apparel to Peak Performance. He was most recently Global Head of Sales at luxury skiwear brand Toni Sailer. Before that, he held senior roles at Lasse Kjus and TravisMathew, managing sales in Central Europe.
Fink is well respected in the sporting goods industry for his deep knowledge of the European retail market. He is known for building strategic partnerships with specialist retailers and helping premium brands grow while keeping their unique position.
His background fits well with Peak Performance’s strategy of offering high-quality technical apparel through select retail partners.
Peak Performance says Fink’s appointment will help the company continue to grow in the premium outdoor market.
Marcel Hess, Vice President of Wholesale at Peak Performance, stressed the importance of matching technical outdoor products with the right retail partners. He said Fink’s strong industry network and experience with premium brands make him a great fit to lead the company’s wholesale plans.
With more people in Europe buying outdoor and mountain sports apparel, strong relationships with specialist retailers are more important than ever. Peak Performance sees these partnerships as key to reaching customers who want both technical performance and premium design.
This leadership change comes as the outdoor apparel market remains highly competitive, with brands placing greater emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and the customer experience.
By hiring an executive with broad experience at leading premium sportswear companies, Peak Performance aims to strengthen its market position and continue growing its presence in Central Europe.
For Fink, this new role is a chance to work with one of Scandinavia’s best-known outdoor brands and help guide its growth in a region that is key to the company’s global success.
With the transition already started and Martin Gaffal staying on through the summer, Peak Performance is working to ensure a smooth handover for its retail partners and get ready for the next phase under Fink’s leadership.
As Peak Performance grows, this appointment shows the company’s commitment to building its wholesale business and forming long-term relationships in the European outdoor and performance apparel market.
