TRAVERSE Issue 17 - April 2020 | Page 125

Recent struggles within the international motorcycle market, Harley Davidson has seen a shake up at the very top with President & CEO, Matt Levatich stepping down. After a 26-year career with HD, it seems Levatich might’ve been pushed as he also leaves the Board of Di- rectors. The Board of Directors appointed current Board member Jochen Zeitz as Acting President and CEO. While a committee of the Board has been formed, and the Company says it will utilise an external search firm to undertake the search for a new CEO. Harley Davidson shares have dropped 46% since Le- vatich took charge in 2015, a figure backed by receding sales on both the domestic and international markets. It’s been a struggling time for the Milwaukee based manufacturer who has had to deal with overall motorcy- cle sales in decline in the USA and an aging demograph- ic that seems to be most interested in the brand. Levatich tried to ‘modernise’ the brand with new N models which included both electric and smaller ca- pacity bikes and says he is proud of what the brand has achieved under his tenure and believes it has a bright future. It remains to be seen what the future now holds. E W S THE HELMET HOOK Extuff, the manufacturer of products to protect your riding gear, has extended their offer of donating $3.00 to animal welfare charities on the sale of every singularly sold Helmet Hook. The sales will go directly to helping restablish lost ani- mal colonies and rehabilitation after the recent devasting bushfires. "What has happened to the poor animals over there is beyond brutal," says Helmet Hook, a North Carolina based business. They encourage you to also donate to lo- cal Australian charities to help with the health of affected animals. The offer remains until 30 April, 2020. The Helmet Hook can be found at - TheHelmetHook.com or TheHelmetHookAustralia.com TRAVERSE 125