He started off as an intern, now this Kedger is the CEO of Rip Curl Europe!

Wilco Prins has been passionate about surfing since his adolescence. A native of the Netherlands, he left his country at the age of 18 to study in France and to live his passion there. Wilco received his degree from KEDGE Business School in 1999 before he went to work for the well-known brand Rip Curl, as a result of someone he met at school. (Someone who would later become his partner).

He started working for Rip Curl in 1997 after applying for a general internship. However, it wasn’t until June 2000, after he got his degree, that he really began working for Rip Curl - as a Marketing Manager for three years. He then started working with Jean Grandy as Junior Footwear Product Manager. When the latter left for the United States, Wilco became the Footwear Product Manager for Europe, a position which he held for two years, after which he worked Wetsuits and Footwear Division Manager for three years.

Later, he managed the “Core Division” (development of all technical products, glasses, watches, wetsuits, boards, and shoes), and was also the business director of specialised surf shops.

Due to his numerous experiences with Rip Curl, and his desire to advance, Wilco Prins became the European President in February 2013.

Along with his impressive professional background, Wilco has also served as President of EuroSIMA since May 2016. Established in 1999 in Soorts-Hossegor, EuroSIMA is the European association of board sports industries (180 members, 122 brands, and 58 service providers).  Its purpose is to unite the various stakeholders in the board sports industry, to defend their interests, and to ensure their development on a European scale. Its objectives are articulated around five axes:

• Education and awareness
• Research and market studies
• Events and philanthropy
• Communication and networking
• Business services development

Congratulations to this KEDGE graduate for his amazing career!

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