Johan Kotze Email & Phone Number

Bludenz, Vorarlberg, Austria

Managing the successful development and implementation of textile innovations...

St Margrethen, St Gallen, Switzerland

I have over 20 years of experience researching and developing sports products (physical and digital). I am very passionate about sports and love the challenge of finding solutions to seemingly impossible problems. I help sports brands to continue innovating and stay ahead in their industries. My vision is to be as flexible as possible and to offer a similar service to a few non-competing sports brands. This would dramatically reduce the resources needed for all partners while increasing the potential for learning from other industries through cross-pollination.

Wuhrkopfweg 1, Kennelbach, Austria

Dazud collects bicycles in Austria and sends them to South Africa to create jobs and provide mobility to the impoverished. A technical team in South Africa repairs all the bicycles and distributes them locally, with most allocated to those in need. Special bicycles are restored as new and sold to more privileged customers, to generate the funds for the project. Additional income is generated by selling a small collection of sustainable apparel in Europe.

Kennelbach, Vorarlberg, Austria

- Coordinate all sustainability projects within the HEAD group (HEAD, Tyrolia, Mares, Zoggs)- Devise a sustainability strategy for HEAD- Perform initial proof-of-concept LCA analyses

- Manage a cross-functional innovation team, driving disruptive innovation projects- Link and translate innovation between technical and marketing teams- Perform global trend analyses to discover new fields for potential innovation- Lead an international Voice of Customer research team- Nurture innovation culture (innovation days, challenges & creative spaces)- Analyse digital ecosystems and product development strategies, - Develop prototypes and MVPs, often with external partners or institutionsKey projectsSmart Tennis Sensor: An integrated racquet sensor tracking player performance parametersRacquet Finder: An AI-based product finder for less technically savvy customers (with IBM Watson)Custom Made: An online technical customization platform for tennis racquetsGraphene: Integrating the world’s strongest material into a tennis racquetEMC Ski: 3rd Generation Piezo energy absorption technology

- Generating and nurturing technical innovations (market-pull & technology-push)- Problem definition & solution, using various analytical and creative methods- Representative at various innovation networks- Communicate with external inventors- Perform basic patent analysis and creative support to the patent team- Communicate with Asian production partnersKey projectsDevelop and roll out an innovation management process (adapted Stage GateTM)Implement an innovation database and project management software

- Indoor court sports & Blue-sky product development and prototyping- Head of laboratory research projects, develop test equipment and research map- Supervise external PhD and student projects and internal internships- Research published in journals and presented at international conferences- Innovation Champion collect and shape new ideasKey projectsThe application of HEAD Intelligence Technology in other sports incl. Ski, Snowboard, BaseballDevelop a new and innovative Golf club and Ice Hockey stickDevelop skunk projects incl. Kayak paddle, Bicycle handlebar, and water bottle holder

Developing a tennis robot with a software interface for testing racket power, combined with a part-time PhD investigating racket performance parameters

Sasolburg, Free State, South Africa

Practical engineering training in mechanical and electrical workshops, mechanical maintenance projects, SAP (Project module) implementation team, SAP (Document management, ABAP/Query and Workflow) development and various related projects

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Sports Engineering

Activities and Societies: Dissertation: Tennis racket performance and design of a novel test machine

Master Of Science - Ms, Biomedical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Dissertation: A prosthetic hand with control algorithms for basic grip shapes. - Played rugby for the 1st.

Bachelor Of Engineering - Be, Mechanical Engineering

Activities and Societies: Dissertation: Concept design for a mechanical bird

Secondary Education, Matriculated, A

Activities and Societies: Subjects: Math, Science, Biology, Woodwork, Afrikaans, English - Dux student in my final year - School deputy.