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Powersports Business • January 2025 • 3

Polaris announced the planned retirement of Steve Eastman , president of Parts , Garments and Accessories ( PG & A ) and Aftermarket , effective December 31 , 2024 .

“ Steve has been an exceptional leader , mentor and advisor to many at Polaris ,” says Mike Speetzen , CEO of Polaris . “ He is the architect who fundamentally transformed how we think about our approach to PG & A and Aftermarket . Over the last 13 years , Steve has built a global , multi-channel business that is a key competitive advantage for us , one that is unmatched in the powersports industry and well-positioned for continued growth . I want to thank Steve for his invaluable contributions over the years and we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement .”

Denago Powersports recently announced the addition of industry veteran Dan Proffer to its growing list of regional sales managers . Proffer will be responsible for the Central U . S . territory .

Denago Powersports National Sales Manager Johnny Hayes states , “ Landing a seasoned professional like Dan is a tremendous win for Denago . His passion , dedication and industry knowledge will be critical in shaping our future and enhancing our market presence . Dan fits perfectly with our well-established veteran team , which will allow him to hit the ground running .”

Proffer was ostensibly born into the powersports business . His parents opened Proffer Kawasaki , one of the first Kawasaki dealerships in Michigan , when Proffer was six years old .

DAN PROFFER

From there , Proffer honed his skills and worked for BRP , Aprilla , Mahindra , and more , specializing in sales and marketing .

Proffer currently resides in Flint , Michigan , where he enjoys using his fleet of motorized toys to enjoy the great outdoors .

Eastman joined Polaris in 2012 as president of PG & A . During his tenure , he was responsible for building and expanding Polaris ’ PG & A and Aftermarket businesses , including its direct-to-consumer e-commerce strategy . Eastman grew the PG & A business from $ 400 million in 2012 to an approximately $ 1.7 billion company , while implementing a category management approach , advancing insights and analytical capabilities and building a global aftermarket portfolio .

As a part of its leadership succession plan , Polaris is naming Andy Williams to the role of president of PG & A and Aftermarket , effective January 1 , 2025 . Eastman has stepped into the role of strategic advisor to support the transition and is expected to stay on through 2025 .

Williams joined Polaris as director of PG & A Supply Chain in 2013 and was promoted to his current role as vice president of PG & A Operations in 2022 . Prior to joining Polaris , Williams worked at Advance Auto Parts as director of e-commerce product fulfillment and at Target in various merchandise planning and distribution roles . He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in engineering .

Pied Piper Management Company LLC has appointed Eric O ’ Hagan as director of AI / ML Innovation & Integration , effective January 2 , 2025 .

Pied Piper continues to expand its embrace of cutting-edge artificial intelligence ( AI ) and machine learning ( ML ) technologies . In this role , O ’ Hagan will lead Pied Piper ’ s ongoing efforts to leverage these technologies , enhancing both new and existing products while improving client experiences and streamlining production processes .

“ We ’ re excited to welcome Eric to the team during this era of AI-driven innovation ,” says Fran O ’ Hagan , CEO of Pied Piper . “ Our clients will quickly benefit from his deep understanding of both digital retail and AI / ML technology , and we look forward to seeing the impact of his leadership as we continue advancing our services .”

“ My work will continue and accelerate Pied Piper ’ s integration of cutting-edge technology — not just as a user , but as an innovator in employing AI-powered solutions ,” says Eric O ’ Hagan . “ I ’ m thrilled by the opportunities we have ahead and cannot wait to contribute to this groundbreaking vision in collaboration with the Pied Piper team .”

Eric O ’ Hagan attended Santa Clara University ’ s Leavey School of Business and pursued studies in AI and ML at MIT ’ s Schwarzman College of Computing .

Moto Morini has appointed Don Baker as Southern regional sales manager . Baker has over 25 years of experience in the motorcycle industry . He was the general manager of a top-producing dealership in Florida . Baker ’ s combination of OEM expertise and firsthand dealer operational knowledge positions him to support and elevate Moto Morini dealers throughout the Southern U . S .

“ It ’ s a thrill to join the Moto Morini team ,” Baker says . “ Moto Morini is a legendary motorcycle brand known around the world for their quality , performance and extraordinary Italian style . Moto Morini is on a mission and I ’ m here to help dealers exceed their sales goals .”

Don Baker can be contacted at don @ motomorini . com or 949−620−5025 .

STEVE EASTMAN

ERIC O ’ HAGAN

DON BAKER

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