Pepsi commercial star Bron signs pro surfing agreement with Hot Tuna
Deal to Inaugurate at St. Ives BPSA Contest
24 August 2006
COSTA MESA, Calif. (Aug. 24, 2006)—Hot Tuna (International) PLC (AIM: HTT), a lifestyle brand with authentic surf heritage, today announced it has signed an exclusive agreement with pro surfing star Bron Heussenstamm, who is currently featured in international Pepsi commercials opposite David Beckham. The multi-year deal provides for Heussenstamm’s endorsement of Hot Tuna apparel and accessories, and additionally enlists the Laguna Beach, California native’s participation in event production, marketing and product development.
“Bron has a rare and requisite blend of talents: He’s a classic blond-haired Californian who surfs great, he has a phenomenal knack for business and promotions, and his relationships in Hollywood and in the pro sports world, as well as surf circles, are substantial,” says Alain Mazer, Hot Tuna international marketing and public relations director. “Bron and his father—a surfing icon in his own right—have been close friends of ours for years, and we’re stoked to have him on board. He’s the perfect ambassador of the brand, and we’re looking forward to supporting him in this important chapter in his professional surfing career and to his involvement in helping take Hot Tuna to new heights.”
Born at the cusp of 1980, Huessenstamm finished as the No. 2 surfer in America’s NSSA rankings at age 18, and finished No. 3 on the U.S. Pro Junior Tour when he turned pro at 19. He travelled on the WQS Tour for four years, wracking up an array of impressive standings, including a win at the prestigious Body Glove Championship in Morro Bay, California.
Equally impressive, Bron successfully balanced his surfing career with an education at the University of Southern California, where he received his degree in Business Entrepreneurship.
With his schooling behind him, Heussenstamm is once again looking to put his stamp on competitive surfing, and reasserting his presence in surf publications globally, all under the Hot Tuna banner, starting with an appearance in the U.K. at the British Professional Surfing Association’s fourth stop, the Hot Tuna “Summer of ‘69” Surf Championship at St. Ives, Cornwall, Aug. 26 and 27.
“I’m so stoked to be back in water full-time, and to be associated with a brand and product line I really believe in,” says Heussenstamm. “I think this is the first time in history that a pro surfer gets to compete and also use his business degree to help build a brand. And I’m so stoked to be starting off in the U.K. People here are really cool and the waves can get really good.”
After his stint in the U.K., Heussentstamm will be off to Portugal to compete shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best surfers in the 5-star WQS contest at Lisbon.
Prior to today’s announcement, Elle Macpherson was not a director or partner, nor had she been a director or partner within the last five years, of any companies or partnerships.
About Hot Tuna (International) PLC: Born Down Under in the summer of ’69 to serve the apparel needs of sojourning surfers, the Hot Tuna brand grew to global prominence in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and went public in the UK in late 2005.
While headquartered in London, Hot Tuna (International) PLC (AIM: HTT) maintains offices in Sydney, Australia, and in Southern California in the USA.
The brand serves core retail, drawing its inspiration from international surf culture and global fashion, and the Company is committed to the timeless values that its iconic Piranha logo has come to embody: authenticity, creativity and good times.
For further information:
| Hot Tuna (International) PLC | |
| Tim Bernardy, COO | Tel: +1 (949) 574 5023 |
| tim_bernardy@hottunausa.com |