Surfer Kelly Slater Cuts Ties With Quiksilver After 23 Years, Signs With Kering Group

Surfer Kelly Slater and Quiksilver announced they will be discontinuing their 23-year partnership, effective today. Quiksilver has reached many milestones with Slater over the years, including 11 Association of Surfing Professionals World Titles. Quiksilver Exec Chair Bob McKnight first signed Slater to the brand as an 18-year-old in '90 (Quiksilver). ESPN.com's Jake Howard noted Slater in '09 signed "a five-year contract extension with Quiksilver." Upon winning his 10th world title in '10, he was "awarded a three percent stake in the company as a bonus." Slater said that he had "chosen to partner with the Kering Group, an apparel and accessories conglomerate that also owns Gucci, Volcom and Puma, among other brands" (ESPN.com, 3/31).