Brasher Boot Company Ltd.

Chris Brasher CBE (73), announced his retirement from the board of The Brasher Boot Company Limited.

Since June 1998, three months after Robert Perkins was appointed managing director, Chris Brasher has had the role of non-executive chairman. He has gradually reduced his involvement in the management of the business over the last three years. Nick Webster currently Group Finance Director, Pentland and non-executive director of the Brasher Boot Company, will succeed him as non-executive chairman.

Chris Brasher, the olympian and founder of the London Marathon conceived the first Brasher Boot in 1978 and, after extensive testing, put it on the market in 1983. He has inspired The Brasher Boot Company since its inception, and helped to make Brasher the UK’s leading lightweight walking boot brand.

In 1993, Chris Brasher teamed up with Stephen Rubin, the chairman of Pentland Group PLC, and Pentland acquired 75 % of The Brasher Boot Company shares. With his retirement Chris Brasher, together with members of his family, sell their 25% shareholding in the Company to Pentland’s parent company, Robert Stephen Holdings PLC, making the latter company the sole shareholder.

Alongside his passion for hillwalking, Chris Brasher has many interests, among them horseracing, skiing, fly fishing and conservation. As a member of the Outdoor Writers’ Guild and president of the Sports Writers’ Association of the UK, he continues to write for many national publications. He remains president of the London Marathon, an event that he founded 21 years ago.

Chris Brasher said, "The Company is making an excellent recovery from the Foot and Mouth crisis and has some exciting products to take it into the future. Naturally I am sad to be parting company with a marvellous bunch of employees, some of whom have been with the business for over a decade, but time is the most precious commodity in the world and I would now like to devote more of my time to exploring wild places that I have never been to before."

Commenting Robert Perkins, managing director, The Brasher Boot Company, said "We are proud that the Company will continue to use his name; one that has become synonymous with innovation and lightweight performance products for walkers worldwide. All these attributes, along with the company’s unique culture and legendary reputation for customer service, will be maintained under our current management team in Lancaster."

"Chris has made an enormous contribution to both the Company and, through his innovative leadership, to the comfort of millions of hillwalking enthusiasts. We wish him well as he devotes more time to his wide-ranging other interests."

Postscript

Chris Brasher died in March 2003.

Adviser to The Brasher Family and the Chris Brasher Trust:

Peter Counsell - Meta Corporate Finance Limited

 

 

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