"We’re extremely happy that a close friend of the brand has taken on the house." So, who’s the company man with the necessary heft of wallet?
Earlier today, Billabong’s Men’s Global GM Mark Weber confirmed BeachGrit’s four-day old rumour that the brand had offloaded their famous “A-Team” Pipeline house.
“While we’re not in the business of owning and managing a property on the North Shore anymore, we’re extremely happy that a close friend of the brand has taken on the house and partnered with us to ensure that it will remain the headquarters for the brand and the Billabong Pro Pipeline for many years to come,” Weber told Shop-Eat-Surf.
The six-bed, four-bath contemporary looking joint at 59-389 Ke Nui Road, sits on 9000 square feet of prime beachfront land and was quickly snapped up by a company insider who’d long enjoyed its fruits.
And, although the sale price remains secret a figure close to six million dollars has been touted. The last time it sold was for three-point six in 2006.
So, who’s the company man with the necessary heft of wallet?
Did a little ringing around, or at least fielded a few calls about it, and the smart money seems to be on the recently retired “President of commercial strategy and growth and chief brand officer“, Shannan North.
Shaz quit the biz after twenty-eight years and is a classic rags to riches sorta tale, beginning in the fabled mail-room of Billabong and working his way to the very top, climbing over the bloodied corpses of soldiers lost in the company’s myriad financial battles.
A talented goofyfooter, and adored throughout the company, a sweet and gentle soul it’s said, North fits the profile of the new buyer perfectly.
He’s got the cash and he can surf the somewhat difficult lefthander out front.