Surf Icon Joins Walter Wilhelm Associates

“WWA is pleased to announce that surf and industry icon Shaun Tomson is joining the company’s group as a senior associate. Shaun has over three decades of unparalleled apparel industry experience in both the action sports and outdoor market and we are very excited to have him on our team,” says Walter Wilhelm, chairman of Walter Wilhelm Associates.

 

“Shaun has founded and managed his own companies (Instinct in the ‘80’s and Solitude in the ‘90’s) and worked with some of the best companies in both the outdoor and action sports markets including O’Neill and Patagonia. We think he will be a great asset in our ongoing commitment to supplying the industry with the best solutions to improve their efficiencies in delivering the best product to market in the fastest and most cost effective way.”

 

WWA is consulting firm specializing in the outdoor, action sports and fashion industries with a focus on improving process efficiency from product inception to adoption. Its team of consultants includes industry veterans with executive management experience from Calvin Klein, Burton, WL Gore, Reebok and other leading brands.  

 

WWA active wear clients include Arc’teryx, Teva, Patagonia, Quiksilver, Volcom, O’Neill, as well as other prestigious international retailers and brands. 

 

Tomson founded, managed, and sold 2 apparel brands in the $50-$100 million sales range – Instinct in the 1980’s and Solitude in the 1990s. He has held positions with both Patagonia and O’Neill and is a current board member of Surfrider Foundation, the world’s largest surfing environmental group. He is a best-selling author (Surfers Code), an award-winning filmmaker (Bustin’ Down the Door) and a World Professional Surfing Champion. He is an inspirational speaker on positive values and overcoming challenges and his clients include General Motors, Price Waterhouse, Cisco, Disney and Toys"R"Us. He is a business finance and administration graduate from the University of Natal in his hometown of Durban, South Africa. He lives in Montecito, Calif., with his wife Carla and son Luke and still finds time to chase the perfect wave.