Polaris Names Blackwell Victory Motorcycles GM
29 August 2000
Polaris Names Blackwell Victory Motorcycles GM
MINNEAPOLIS--Aug. 29, 2000--Polaris Industries Inc. today named Mark Blackwell as general manager of its Victory Motorcycle Division. Blackwell brings more than 20 years of motorcycle industry experience to Victory and was most recently vice president of marketing for Arctic Cat Inc., overseeing all of the company's sales and marketing activities."We're thrilled to have Mark join the team," said Tom Tiller, Polaris CEO. "He has an outstanding leadership track record and brings a wealth of motorcycle experience to Victory."
With the launch of Victory Motorcycles on July 4, 1998, Polaris became the first major American company to enter the motorcycle market in more than 60 years. Since that introduction, Victory Motorcycles was named "Cruiser of the Year" by two leading motorcycle industry publications.
Blackwell began his career as a professional motocross rider and instructor. After a successful racing career that included an American Motorcycle Association (AMA) National Championship, he joined U.S. Suzuki in 1975 as motocross school manager and eventually was promoted to racing manager. In 1981, he joined Husqvarna Motorcycle Company as their product manager/regional sales manager before being named vice president of marketing. Blackwell returned to Suzuki in 1986 and was quickly promoted to marketing director for Suzuki's motorcycle and marine division before moving to Arctic Cat in 1992.
A 1985 graduate of National University in San Diego, Blackwell received an MBA from Pepperdine University in 1987. He and his family will relocate to the Twin Cities in the near future.