Topgolf CEO LOL
New Harley CEO ! Can’t make this up
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Baron58
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If you have a Facebook account read this posting from a Texas HD dealership.
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The gist of says that Artie never threw a leg over a bike until he took the rider course in May of this year.
This is not going to end well.
Here is the text from Facebook
Before the CEO Seat… He Took the Rider’s Seat
From Maverick Harley-Davidson Riding Academy to Harley-Davidson’s top job—Artie Starrs is learning the brand from the saddle up.
Mid-May, before the world knew him as Harley-Davidson’s next President & CEO (effective October 1, 2025), Artie Starrs strolled into Maverick Harley-Davidson and immediately clicked with Zakk, one of our Fit Specialists.
After talking bikes and swapping stories, Artie decided it was time to make the dream happen. A few weeks later, he was enrolled in our Riding Academy Motorcycle Training Course. He nailed it—license in hand—and came straight back to handpick his dream Harley. Zakk set him up, and the two hit the road for a demo ride that sealed the deal.
Now, Artie owns his first Harley-Davidson motorcycle—and he’s bringing that authentic new rider perspective right into the CEO seat.
Artie is so authentic and down to earth. During his visit at Maverick Harley-Davidson today, he took time to get to know every person that was on our showroom floor. From the cashier to the owners and even just shoppers checking out dealer tees, he was eager to hear our stories and hear about our love of riding and the brand.
With his personal skills and a proven track record leading iconic lifestyle brands and delivering premium customer experiences, we feel Artie has already embraced what makes Harley-Davidson more than just a motorcycle—it’s a community, a culture, and a way of life. And now, he gets it not just as a leader… but as a rider.
We can’t wait to see the passion, energy, and fresh perspective he’ll bring to the brand we all love.
Stay tuned for pics of Artie and his new Harley.
Harley-Davidson
By the way, he already most likely was picked as the new CEO months earlier, and it was kept quiet until all the pay packages, stock options and other details could be finalized. This is simply a Marketing scam to quell the HD faithful that he was going to be a Harley rider before he got hired. Nope, he knew he was getting the job, so decided to see what a motorcycle was all about.
2024 Pursuit Dark Horse. 2019 Chieftain Limted, 2019 FTR1200S
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This is going to do nothing to quell the HD faithful who already are beyond disgusted by the board’s choices.Here is the text from Facebook
Before the CEO Seat… He Took the Rider’s Seat
From Maverick Harley-Davidson Riding Academy to Harley-Davidson’s top job—Artie Starrs is learning the brand from the saddle up.
Mid-May, before the world knew him as Harley-Davidson’s next President & CEO (effective October 1, 2025), Artie Starrs strolled into Maverick Harley-Davidson and immediately clicked with Zakk, one of our Fit Specialists.
After talking bikes and swapping stories, Artie decided it was time to make the dream happen. A few weeks later, he was enrolled in our Riding Academy Motorcycle Training Course. He nailed it—license in hand—and came straight back to handpick his dream Harley. Zakk set him up, and the two hit the road for a demo ride that sealed the deal.
Now, Artie owns his first Harley-Davidson motorcycle—and he’s bringing that authentic new rider perspective right into the CEO seat.
Artie is so authentic and down to earth. During his visit at Maverick Harley-Davidson today, he took time to get to know every person that was on our showroom floor. From the cashier to the owners and even just shoppers checking out dealer tees, he was eager to hear our stories and hear about our love of riding and the brand.
With his personal skills and a proven track record leading iconic lifestyle brands and delivering premium customer experiences, we feel Artie has already embraced what makes Harley-Davidson more than just a motorcycle—it’s a community, a culture, and a way of life. And now, he gets it not just as a leader… but as a rider.
We can’t wait to see the passion, energy, and fresh perspective he’ll bring to the brand we all love.
Stay tuned for pics of Artie and his new Harley.![🇺🇸]( "🇺🇸")
Harley-Davidson
By the way, he already most likely was picked as the new CEO months earlier, and it was kept quiet until all the pay packages, stock options and other details could be finalized. This is simply a Marketing scam to quell the HD faithful that he was going to be a Harley rider before he got hired. Nope, he knew he was getting the job, so decided to see what a motorcycle was all about.
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Pay packages and other options is what the problem has been with the last couple of CEO’s. I agree that they should be well compensated IF they are successful. But the board of directors should hire someone who will accept the job without a million + dollar payout upon their departure even if they are ousted for underperforming their duties. Too many times does a CEO, company president ,etc. get booted from their position only to leave with a handsome severance package because it was in their contract. If someone really believes he or she can do the job of saving the company then they should buck up and accept a contract that pays for their accomplishment. I would think anyone worth their salt would really care about their job performance when it’s their reputation on the line.
I never understood why any company, school or business of any kind would offer tenure. It gives no incentive to do your job well if you know you’re getting paid either way.
I never understood why any company, school or business of any kind would offer tenure. It gives no incentive to do your job well if you know you’re getting paid either way.
2024 Pursuit Dark Horse. 2019 Chieftain Limted, 2019 FTR1200S
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I said all along that Zeitz was a grifter who would line his pockets and exit in five years.
I nailed almost to the day.
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Most modern CEO's with the exception of company founders, are short term. They are hired by the board to do their bidding. Almost all CEO's included some sort of golden parachute if they are asked to leave before their term.
The problem with Harley, for most competent CEO's, it is not a desirable job. The market share is waning, and the "brand" is not as shiny. For Harley to regain "glory" A complete re-set is needed with ownership and a "clear vison" for the future.
This means most likely re-inventing the brand, becoming leaner, and ditching their old identity which now has become a liability.
People wonder why they don't get a "industry experienced CEO" The fact might be they have tried, but those guys know it will be very hard to turn them around and don't want the headache.
2024 Pursuit Dark Horse. 2019 Chieftain Limted, 2019 FTR1200S
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Or better yet, hire someone with passion for the industry who is less concerned with being paid what amounts to generational wealth.
A certain Erik Buell comes to mind.
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My gut instinct is the current ownership, want to rid themselves of Harley and are just trying to get them financially attractive to a new buyer. Usually, you don't hire the CEO's they have if you are looking at long term.
2024 Pursuit Dark Horse. 2019 Chieftain Limted, 2019 FTR1200S
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I agree 100%.
And that will just be another sad ending for a great Milwaukee based industry leader.
First we lost the Breweries and now Harley Davidson will likely follow.
These were great companies that did a lot for the community.
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Aermacchi makes fine airplanes.
I read a little of this thread and want to respond so anyone that wants to get technical about the response just know my comment is a general outlook. Harley hired a CEO in that was successful with shoes. That in and of itself wasn't a disqualifier because a good CEO should know several things to drive business and those things are interchangeable regardless of industry when a tried and true "process" is used. However, coming to a company from another in the same industry and bringing that knowledge rarely is a bad thing. In this case, the shoe guy came to HD with an idealistic DEI view of the world and tried to make that work with an American Icon company that was built on the American spirit. Driving a company's growth process with DEI is synonymous with putting a marketing plan together based solely on "feelings" and void of any data, demographic studies, lineup rebalance, etc..
I believe HD will only get better due to this failure and hopefully use it to survive in a highly competitive, capital intense industry.
Happy riding everyone, I'm off till the 27th so all my bikes will get a lot of attention!!
You just described coaching, professional sports, etc.
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I was going to say the exact same thing, haha
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BINGO!
"I'm a dealer, and I hate to admit this, but there are too many dealers for the number of new vehicles that are being sold today," Gatto says. "Margins on the new bikes are the worst we've ever seen."
Thats why there is not an Indian dealer on every street corner, like the Harley guys want.
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I
I’ve said it here before, over saturated.
I have a different spin. Competition drives investment and innovation. Healthy competition will keep Polaris in the game. I do agree with others in the forum. I think a powersports CEO needs have their butt in the saddle to appreciate what their company is building and selling.
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