Strategy. Acquisitions.
Brand management. CEO advisory.
For sports, outdoor and fashion brands in Europe, Asia and the Gulf.
Who We Are
Advice from people who have run the business.
GSA is a family business. John B. Gearing leads every project and does the work himself. His son James runs sales and partnerships. Specialists from our network in Europe, Asia and the Gulf join when a project calls for them.
John B. Gearing, Principal
Twenty-five years in sports, outdoor and fashion brands, twenty of them leading businesses in Asia-Pacific and the Gulf. As Managing Director of VF Corporation in Asia-Pacific he ran 15 markets, took Lee to number one in China, and launched Wrangler in China and Lee in Korea. He was on the leadership team for the Kontoor Brands spin-off and New York listing, held senior roles at Adidas and Timberland in Asia-Pacific, and was Chief Executive of One Fit Holdings in the Gulf. He is the author of The CEO Mirage and an Operating Partner at Bosham Capital Advisors.
James Gearing, Commercial Associate
James joined GSA from Ralph Lauren, where he worked in key account management and luxury partnerships. He builds the sales channels and partnerships that take client brands into UK and European retail: finding agents, managing national accounts and leading athlete outreach. A high-level amateur athlete, he brings a network across fitness and combat sports and the trust of the athletes and coaches in it.
WHAT WE DO
Strategic Advisory
Plans for new markets, new categories and new capital, with the choices ranked and the first steps set out.
Brand Acquisitions
Finding and assessing brands to buy, approaching their owners, and seeing the deal through to signing.
Brand Management
Setting up and running a brand in a region, through sales agents, distributors and marketing partners.
CEO Advisory
A six-month, one-to-one programme for serving chief executives, based on the book The CEO Mirage. Two sessions a month.
WHO GSA WORKS WITH
Founder-led and PE-backed businesses.
Boards and owners requiring independent operating judgment.
Leadership teams scaling across markets, brands, or geographies.
EXAMPLE PROJECTS
Recent work has included:
-
Acquisition and build. Brought the buyer to the purchase of a British outdoor brand, then set up its UK and European business.
-
Regional strategy. Wrote the Asia-Pacific strategic plan for a British outdoor brand, working with its chief executive.
-
Licensing. Drew up a five-year Asia plan and a China licence structure for a British heritage shirt brand, and found the local partners.
-
Market entry. Taking a British fashion brand into South Korea with a local partner.
-
Buy-side search. Retained by an Asian brand group to find and assess European brands to buy.
-
Valuation and structure. Valued a European heritage footwear brand for a buyer and proposed a staged deal with a China licence.
-
CEO advisory. Six-month programme, one to one, with a serving chief executive of a Saudi sports development business.
Client names withheld.
CONTACT
For advisory enquiries: james@globalsportsadvisory.com