Head
Austria
Head is a sports equipment company founded in 1950 in Baltimore by the engineer Howard Head and now headquartered in Kennelbach, Austria. It makes ski, tennis and racket sports equipment, and licenses its name to apparel and other goods. Johan Eliasch has led the company since 1995.
| Founded | 1950, Baltimore, USA |
|---|---|
| Founder | Howard Head |
| Headquarters | Kennelbach, Austria |
| Chief executive | Johan Eliasch (since 1995, per Wikipedia) |
| Brands | Head, Tyrolia, Mares |
| Website | head.com |
What is Head?
Head is a sports equipment group known for skis, snowboards, tennis and racket sports equipment, swimming and diving gear, sportswear and footwear. Its brands include Head, Tyrolia and Mares. The operating company, Head Sport GmbH, is headquartered in Kennelbach in Vorarlberg, Austria.
History
According to Wikipedia, Howard Head, an aeronautical engineer, founded the Head Ski Company in 1950 to make metal and wood composite skis. In the 1960s Head skis held more than half of the US market. Howard Head sold the company to AMF in 1969, and a tennis division with an aluminium frame racket followed in the late 1960s. In the 1970s Head acquired the diving brand Mares and the binding maker Tyrolia. Minstar acquired Head in 1985 through a hostile takeover of AMF, and management bought out Head, Tyrolia and Mares in 1989 to form HTM. HTM was sold to Austria Tabak in 1993, and Johan Eliasch took over the company in 1995.
Business model and distribution
The brand is licensed to makers of apparel, shoes, accessories, bicycles and other goods, according to the source. In June 2025 Head reportedly acquired the Aqualung Group after its bankruptcy. The page lists Head Austria GmbH and Head N.V. (formerly) as parent and names Johan Eliasch as CEO, but it does not give a clear 2026 ownership statement, so this profile leaves the group field empty.
Why it matters
Head is unusual among sporting goods companies because it spans winter sports, racket sports and diving under one brand, and because licensing extends the name into other product categories. The sources consulted do not give revenue figures or documented technology programmes, so none are stated here.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Head?
Wikipedia lists Head Austria GmbH, with Head N.V. as a former parent, and names Johan Eliasch as CEO. It does not state a clear 2026 ownership position, so none is asserted here.
Where is Head from?
Head was founded in Baltimore, USA, in 1950 by Howard Head. It is now headquartered in Kennelbach, Austria.
