The American Bicycle Group announced Friday that its board of directors has formalized two leadership changes following the recent passing of longtime CEO Peter Hurley. Lorraine Hurley has been elected chairman of the Board, and Christopher Pascarella has been promoted from his current role as chief operating officer to president of ABG. Professionally, Ms. Hurley and Mr. Pascarella are well-acquainted, having worked together previously on a number of successful initiatives.
At a company gathering earlier Friday, Ms. Hurley addressed the entire employee base. “Peter was like a kid when he was on his bike. Day in and day out, he never lost that thrill. It’s a pleasure to see Peter’s spirit alive and well here in all of you,” Ms. Hurley said. “Even though we didn’t expect Peter to leave us just now, he always prepared ahead of time and, not surprisingly, left us with a clear direction as to how to proceed in his absence, both in pragmatic ways and in the values he embraced. I remember how excited Peter was when he hired Chris. I know how proud he would be today as I share the news that the board has named him our new president. As board chair, I have every confidence in Chris to develop the ABG strategic vision and implement it successfully.”
Mr. Pascarella added, “Our team and our results have never been stronger. Our leadership team is successfully establishing a global presence for our brands and delivering an unmatched experience for cyclists worldwide. We continue to show strong growth in all the markets we’ve chosen to enter. I’m looking forward to upholding Peter’s practice of making responsible business decisions, setting strong strategic direction, and continuing to foster the relationships so important for success in this industry.”
About Lorraine Hurley
A USAT and Ironman-certified coach, Ms. Hurley lives and breathes triathlon both personally and professionally and thoroughly enjoyed watching her husband embrace cycling and gravel racing with equal passion. She has completed numerous 70.3 and Ironman-distance triathlons, including the Ironman World Championship held in Kona, Hi. She has established her own successful triathlon coaching business, Empower Triathlon Training. Ms. Hurley has been integrally involved with ABG since Peter Hurley took the helm in 2007. Many industry leaders who knew Peter already know Lorraine and consider her a friend. She has traveled with the company to trade shows, races, and events worldwide, immersing herself in the sales and marketing of ABG brands. She has also played a key role in product design and development, performing hands-on and in-competition testing of bicycles and other products.
“I love the feedback I get from Lorraine,” said engineer Brad Devaney. “She brings great perspective as an athlete and a coach and has insights only gained through years of hands-on experience with our products and understanding of the intricacies of ABG operations.”
Ms. Hurley holds a master’s degree from the University of Rhode Island.
About Christopher Pascarella
Christopher Pascarella holds an Executive MBA from UTC. He joined ABG in 2008 as an accountant. Quickly assuming a leadership role, he began reporting directly to the CEO in 2010. As executive vice president and chief operating officer, Mr. Pascarella was accountable for the operational success of the business and for implementing the strategic vision established by Peter over the past decade. Mr. Pascarella is a triathlete himself with multiple Ironman 70.3 finishes behind him. Chris has a strong command of the business, the dynamics of the cycling industry, and the needs of the customer base.