13 years ago, Tuff Stuff LLC brought new wind into the swiss cycling industry. In the meantime it has grown to the well diversified TST Trading LLC. It’s time for Michel Manz to pass on the baton to Silas Obrist.
At the beginning, Michel Manz’s distribution company was a clearly Downhill oriented niche supplier. The name Tuff Stuff therefore was right at the time. “Our portfolio of products grew quick and the name became rather a hurdle than a cool statement. We therefore changed the name to TST Trading with the objective to reach out for a bigger range of customers”, says Michel Manz. With brands like Intense, Commencal, Zimtstern, Sombrio, Cane Creek, Maxxis, SDG, Onza Tires, Lezyne, Early Rider, Fibre Flare, Royal, Suplest, Cervo Rosso, Sunline and SixSixOne TST Trading is well diversified.
Therefore, the time has come for Michel Manz to hand over all operations to Silas Obrist and concentrate on his second company Apex Sports LLC: “After 13 years as the CEO of TST, I am ready to concentrate on a new challenge and focus on the tires company Onza. I want to lead the company to the next level. I am very happy that Silas Obrist takes over my shares and carries on all operations in a well known manner to me. I am still going to be around and help with words and deeds wherever I can.” Michel Manz is going to participate at Taichung Bike Week in Taiwan this December to increase OEM specification on bicycles globally.
The appointment of Silas Obrist as the new CEO signals consistency. He participated in the development of the company since the beginning: “I am very excited to take the challenge here at TST Trading. For the past 13 years I am accompanying the development in one way or the other. I know all the company processes and feel great joy for this new adventure”. As at 1st of November 2011 Silas Obrist took over all operations while Michel Manz still remains in the company until the 1st of January when he concentrates on Onza Tires only.
