John L.A. Wilson

John L.A. Wilson has over thirty years of experience in the apparel and retail industry. John L.A. began their career in 1987 as a Group Marketing Manager at Converse, where they managed product and marketing for the company's women's and children's product categories. In 1990, they joined Reebok as Senior Director of Marketing for the Global Fitness Division and later as International Marketing Operations Director for the Reebok International Division. In 1993, they became Vice President of Marketing and Sales for the International Division of LA Gear Inc. (Shamrock/Disney PE Portfolio Holding). From 1996 to 2002, they were President and Chief Operating Officer of Duofold Inc. and Executive Vice President and Board Director of J.E. Morgan Inc. at Hanesbrands Inc. During this time, they managed a $110 million plus sports base-layer/underwear business. In 2002, they became the Founding Officer and Operating Leader of Wacoal Sports Science Corporation (CW-X Compression Apparel) in The Americas and Europe. John L.A. grew the business to profitability, secured 1000+ US retail doors, 20+ countries, a D2C E-Commerce business, and NPD category share leadership. From 2018 to 2019, they were Managing Director of BRAND XLR8R LLC and provided interim/fractional C-Level Operating Management, Brand Growth Strategy Advisory, Start-Up and Turnaround Advisory, C-Level Executive coaching, and PE-VC Due Diligence. During this time, they also served as Interim Chief Operating Officer for Todd Snyder New York (American Eagle Outfitters Inc.) and Brand Strategy and Operating Advisor for Tracksmith (Performance Running Apparel). In 2022, they joined Lasso as Interim Chief Operating Officer, where they are focused on guiding the patented LASSO performance compression sock business through its next phase of growth to profitability, and helping to secure the requisite investment funding to support the business accordingly.

John L.A. Wilson has a BSBA from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, with a double concentration in Marketing and International Business. John L.A. also holds an MBA from Bentley University's McCallum Graduate School of Business in General Management. John L.A. has completed an Executive Education Program in Financial Decision Making from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Additionally, they have taken courses in Exercising Leadership: Foundational Principles from the Harvard Kennedy School and Technology Entrepreneurship: Lab to Market from Harvard Business School.