Linda Van Aken

Senior brand, product, and business leader with over 20 years of experience in the global sports industry, built through senior roles at Nike and ASICS across Europe and the US. Known for bringing clarity, focus, and creative energy to complex challenges, with a strong track record in brand growth, repositioning, and transformation. Combines strategic thinking with an authentic, people-first leadership style, able to identify potential in individuals and ideas and align teams around a clear direction. Particularly effective in supporting scale-ups and mid-sized organisations as they evolve, I help define long-term vision, sharpen brand and product strategy, and guide teams through periods of change. My experience in large, complex organisations allows me to bring structure and pace, while my hands-on approach ensures strategies are grounded, actionable, and embraced by the people delivering them.