Gareth is a visionary leader in the footwear and apparel industry with a passion for building transformative brands and businesses. As CEO of HandsFree Labs | Kizik, he leads a talented team accelerating the growth of the revolutionary hands-free footwear brand with immense market potential. Under his leadership, the company is positioned to capture significant market share in the evolving footwear landscape.

Gareth's impressive career spans major global brands and entrepreneurial ventures. He spent 12 years at Nike, serving in various roles in the Soccer category before becoming general manager of Nike UK & Ireland, a $1.2BN business. He then served as chief commercial officer for Converse, leading a global organization of 600+ people responsible for delivering over $2BN per year in revenue. Most recently, he was CFO, COO & head of partnerships at OMORPHO Inc.

Tell us a bit about what excites you most about your partnership with Newcastle?

Newcastle provides expertise that is far beyond access to capital. They provide strong strategic and operational support when requested and required, while also giving teams the space to fully operate. Newcastle was instrumental in my selection and on-boarding process, allowing the existing management team to focus on the business.

What's your most controversial food opinion?

Pineapple on pizza is a must.

What's your most specific pet peeve that no one else seems to understand?

Other airline passengers "stealing" my overhead bin space.