Sneaker designer Asics makes tracks for the Leather District
Advertisement
The US group is led by Koichiro Kodama, who splits his time between the Boston and California offices. Despite the shrinking office footprint here, Turner said, Asics still hopes to add more people in Boston.
Synergy vice president Tim Ferguson said the building's high ceilings, a vestige of its manufacturing past, were a selling point, as was Synergy's ability to have the space ready for Asics within just a few months after their first contact. Synergy acquired it from EQ Office, a Blackstone-owned landlord, last year.
Advertisement
The Japanese sneaker company's road to Boston starts with its acquisition of Runkeeper, a fitness app developed here that Asics acquired in 2016. Two years later, Asics opened its Summer Street office, to build more of a presence in a city known for its footwear brands.
Other shoe companies with major offices within the city limits include Nike-owned Converse and Wolverine-owned Saucony (both near North Station), Reebok (in the Seaport), and New Balance (in Brighton). Puma has its main US office just over the line in Somerville, the Americas headquarters for Clarks is in Needham, and homegrown running shoe company Topo is in Framingham.
'That's part of the reason why we chose Boston,' Turner said. 'There are not many areas that are similar to Boston in that way, that have so many ... footwear brands in that small of an area.'
This is an installment of our weekly Bold Types column about the movers and shakers on Boston's business scene.
Jon Chesto can be reached at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Highlights of the Nike Deal, Broadcast Partnerships, Kit Sponsorships, and Stadium Naming Rights
Explore the "Business of the NWSL 2025," a detailed report on the women's soccer league's media and sponsorship landscapes. Discover insights on $39.5M in league sponsorship, $60M in media rights, and $66.46M in team sponsorship. Learn about market viewership, team profiles, and social media metrics. Dublin, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Business of the National Women's Soccer League 2025" report has been added to offering. The main aims of this report is to highlight commercial landscape across NWSL. The report aims to break down the key commercial revenue streams for the league and its affiliated teams. It goes into detail on the key partnerships including its centralized rights with Nike, its four main US broadcasters, front-of-shirt rights, sleeve partnerships and stadium naming "Business of the NWSL 2025" report is part of the the analyst's 'Business of' series of sport competition profiles. The report takes a deep dive into the premier competition for women's domestic soccer in the United States. The report explores the biggest rights across the league, specifically looking at the main media and sponsorship rights attached to the NWSL, as well the main sponsorship rights and annual values of the 14 competing teams. The report also looks at market viewership, profiles individual teams and offers social media following comparisons against teams, other American sports leagues and other soccer NWSL stands to generate $39.5 million from league sponsorship this season. Home market media rights worth $60 million across four main broadcaster deals. Team sponsorship in the league worth $66.46 million in Highlights Overview of the media rights landscape. Global media and sponsor partners explored. Breakdown of the sponsorship deals including annual values. Individual team profiles. Team market comparison by sponsorship. Connected social media followers. Reasons to Buy Soccer is a growing sport in the United States as the country build towards jointly hosting (with Canada and Mexico) the 2026 men's FIFA World Cup . The NWSL, alongside the WNBA (basketball) is the most popular women's sports leagues in the United States and has produced many of the best players in the world over the past decade. Key Topics Covered: 1. Overview2. Media landscape3. League sponsorship landscape4. Kit supplier landscape5. Front-of-shirt landscape6. Sleeve landscape7. Back-of-shirt landscape8. Stadium naming rights landscape9. Team sponsorship overview10. Additional revenue & social media11. AppendixKey Data Tables Home market broadcasters Regional broadcasters International broadcasters NWSL ticket revenue For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. CONTACT: CONTACT: Laura Wood,Senior Press Manager press@ For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Africa's richest man picks foreign deals as Nigeria money to Angola via the Dangote Refinery
Hailed as a game-changer for Nigeria's energy sector, the $20 billion Dangote Refinery is currently at the center of a maritime dispute. African shipowners have expressed concern that the refinery is using ships from Angola to transport its crude and finished products, rather than Nigerian-owned vessels. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, worth $20 billion, is a major project in Nigeria's energy sector. A maritime dispute has arisen due to the use of Angolan ships for transporting crude and finished products. Nigerian shipowners cite a lack of local vessel capacity as a hurdle in participating in refinery transportation operations. Ladi Olubowale, President of the African Shipowners Association in Nigeria, told the Punch that the Dangote Group's decision was driven by a scarcity of Nigerian vessels capable of managing such massive cargo operations. 'So I think the narrative about it is that the Dangote chartered most of the Angolan Fleet because they have vessels to be chartered, and we don't have. We don't have a vessel of that size, such as Supermax, Suezmax, or Aframax vessels, among others, that could be used,' he stated. 'Like the Angolan people, they have vessels to be chartered. If we had it, it would have been an opportunity that Dangote would have used as well. We are losing a lot of money. The benefits those guys are making, we are losing them. We are not even developing our capacity. For every trade, there are three elements: the trade, the capacity, the currency, and also the cargo,' Olubowale further explained. This development comes on the heels of rising dissatisfaction in Nigeria's indigenous maritime industry. According to Edward Sowho, a member of the Nigerian Indigenous Shipowners Association, while Nigerian boats are not currently involved, arrangements can be made if Dangote demonstrates a commitment to local businesses. 'The vessels he is using in Angola may not belong essentially to Angolans; there is always an arrangement for you to get vessels from somewhere else to give to a third party. For me, it is not enough of an excuse that there could be partnerships,' Sowho stated. 'If Dangote wants to use Nigerian-owned vessels, it is a matter of indicating interest. If he says I want to now confine myself to using Nigerian-flagged vessels in partnership with foreign owners, those things can be arranged. If I were to own a refinery like that and I want to move crude oil, I would approach a group like NISA and say, I need this size of vessel to move cargo, and I am sure they can arrange it. It's a question of I want to be indigenous and work with my people,' he elaborated. In light of this conversation, the Dangote Group has upheld its position, noting that demonstrated capacity would be a key determinant when selecting business partners. When contacted, spokesman Anthony Chiejine stated that the business will always work with shipowners who have the requisite capacity. 'He (Olubowale) is somebody in that business, and he has told you the challenges that they are facing. Ask the man in that sector why they are not attracting funding so that they can compete; that should be the question,' he said. Similar accusations against Dangote last week Last week, following a revelation by Aliko Dangote concerning local logistics problems, Olufemi Adewole, Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, pointed out that most local merchants, especially small firms that depend on adaptable coastal supply networks, do not profit from Dangote's business practices. 'Since the advent of Dangote refinery, it has not been smooth sailing at all. We had preliminary meetings with their management. We received promises and assurances that we would be accommodated. We are ready and still willing to patronise Dangote. But the issue is, is Dangote ready to give us the product we want?' he stated. 'You don't get the price upfront,' Adewole explained. 'It is only after you've been cleared that a proforma invoice is issued. Meanwhile, there appears to be a select group Dangote prefers to trade with,' he added. Aliko Dangote himself voiced frustration over the numerous challenges surrounding the refinery's operations. According to the Nigerian billionaire, moving refined petroleum products from the Lekki plant costs Nigerian oil marketers more than procuring from offshore depots in adjacent countries like Togo. Dangote ascribed the pricing gap to high port taxes, bureaucratic hurdles, and inefficiencies in Nigeria's regulatory structure.
Business Wire
2 hours ago
- Business Wire
Mitsubishi Electric to Transfer Shares of Insurance Subsidiary to Marsh Japan
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that it has concluded a share transfer agreement under which it will transfer shares of its Tokyo-based subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric Insurance Service Co., Ltd. to Marsh Japan, Inc. on November 4. Since its establishment in 1999 as an insurance agency for the Mitsubishi Electric Group, Mitsubishi Electric Insurance Service has supported the growth of companies and the life plans of individuals. Marsh Japan, which provides services and solutions to companies of all sizes across Japan, was founded in 1955 as a Japanese subsidiary of Marsh LLC, a world-leading insurance broker and risk advisor owned by Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC). Mitsubishi Electric has been assessing the significance of the insurance business in its portfolio, aiming to further strengthen the company's overall business structure. Considering the evolving business environment for insurance agencies in Japan, Mitsubishi Electric determined having Mitsubishi Electric Insurance Service teamed up with Marsh Japan would best position the company for long-term growth supported by Marsh LLC's global insurance expertise. The impact of the transaction on Mitsubishi Electric's consolidated financial results is not included in its financial forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026, announced on April 28, 2025, but it is expected to be minor. If there is any significant change, updates will be announced promptly as required.
