Canyon CEO steps down as founder Roman Arnold takes leadership role
Canyon has announced that its founder Roman Arnold will return to an operational role as the company's executive chairman from 1 September, following the departure of current CEO Nicolas De Ros Wallace.
De Ros Wallace joined the German direct-to-consumer brand in 2022 after a career at Nike, and is said to leave "by mutual agreement". Speaking to Bicycle Retailer and Industry News, Canyon confirmed that Arnold will take on De Ros Wallace's responsibilities, with no plans to appoint a new CEO.
Arnold founded Canyon in 1996 and sold a majority stake to Belgian investment firm Groupe Bruxelles Lambert (GBL) in 2020, while keeping about 40% share of the business. In the press release, Arnold said he is returning to strengthen Canyon's roots and shape its future.
During De Ros Wallace’s tenure, Canyon's annual sales doubled to nearly US$934 million. But more recently, the brand has faced headwinds: GBL substantially devaluated its Canyon investment at the end of 2024, and reported the company's first-half 2025 sales down 5%, EBITDA down 30%, and it made a net loss of US$5.8 million.
