Michael Marckx

A creative marketing executive with VP, CMO, and CEO experience across 30 years of leadership in the youth culture, action sports & outdoor industries, I've had a career resuscitating, building, accelerating, and creating brands in the apparel, accessories, footwear, watch, nutrition, brewing, spirits, eyewear, skateboard, and bicycle categories. I've conceived and produced award-winning campaigns, ground-breaking events, product innovations & collaborations, and award-winning films. Serving in all facets of marketing and leadership with many iconic brands, I've been honored to oversee both strategic direction and marketing execution while empowering international teams to craft and implement sales and marketing strategies to deliver regionally on global initiatives. I've also done a Tedx Talk. With a love for creative solutions in advertising, content creation, product, digital & experiential marketing, I have held leadership positions with adidas, Nixon, Billabong, SPY Inc, Ocean Pacific, Globe Intl, and 100%. In addition to leading global brands, I have helped new brands launch, and served as Chairman of the Board of Surfrider Foundation, Vice President of Surf Industry Members Association, and on the board of directors of Superbrand, Beachly, Group Y, SDSI, and SIMA. I currently serve as a Brand Strategist, on the board of Drink Monday, and Board of Councilors at the University of California, Irvine, where I'm an alumnus. I have been a publisher with the largest surf magazine in the world and written for numerous media outlets. I've also created or managed successful partnerships with Star Wars, Disney, Santa Cruz, Marvel, Metallica, The Clash, Devo, G-Shock, Splatterhouse, Gears of War, Spitfire, Christies of London, Canyon, and Craig Stecyk III. Having produced events in eight countries and 10 states, I may be best known for the creation and execution of unique global events, along with a large catalog of related television shows, film projects, commercials, and web-based content. I'm the founder of the Belgian Waffle Ride, a Monument of Gravel, which has blossomed into the largest gravel race series in the world with seven events throughout North America. I helped create Two Farmtables and a Microphone with Group Y, directed three World Surfing Championship events in Fiji, the World Cup Skateboarding at Rod Laver Arena, the Orange County Marathon, the Ironman for Gatorade, Slaughter at the Opera at the Sydney Opera House, and two other international skateboard events, the Global Assault!!, and the Double Cash Stack Attack.