Our Chairman

FRANK VAN WEZEL was born in VLISSINGEN, HOLLAND, where he spent his childhood and adolescence. He was the youngest student in his year at NYENRODE BUSINESS UNIVERSITY (www.nyenrode.nl) from where he graduated with honours before fulfilling his National Service obligations as a Lieutenant in the Dutch Air Force.

Upon leaving the Air Force, he worked and studied in LONDON and PARIS, after which he lived in East Africa for 10 years before being eventually transferred to ESSEX in ENGLAND. His love of Squash and Tennis led to his involvement in the sports shoe industry where he was instrumental in the introduction of the first specialist Squash shoe, which subsequently led to the creation of HI-TEC SPORTS PLC. Now more than 18 million pairs of the first shoe, still commercialised even today, have been sold.

From humble beginnings in 1974, the Company was floated on THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE in June 1988. Chairman VAN WEZEL decided to privatise the Company once again because he felt stifled by the demands of short-term profit goals of being a Public Company. This happened in 2000.

HI-TEC SPORTS now enjoys worldwide recognition as being one of the world leaders in sports footwear with distribution in approximately 80 countries and subsidiary Companies in UK, CANADA, USA, SOUTH AFRICA, SPAIN, FRANCE and CZECH REPUBLIC. The Company currently employs approximately 400 employees and generates global sales of more than US$ 250 million.

In 1998, MR VAN WEZEL was elected a Life Vice President of the SQUASH RACKETS ASSOCIATION in the UK, an honour bestowed for the first time by the Association in recognition of the services he has rendered to the game of Squash worldwide. MR VAN WEZEL is also a founding member of the Faculty Advisory Board of the UNIVERSITY OF BATH's SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT and a Director of the STICHTING NYENRODE FUND, which provides financial support for his old university.

FRANK VAN WEZEL and his family have lived in the SOUTHEND area for more than 30 years, and he is blessed with two daughters and one son. His two sons-in-law and his son work in the business, which is a true family affair. This sport loving Dutchman enjoys Soccer, Tennis, Squash, Skiing and Golf. He is a Director of his local professional soccer team, SOUTHEND UNITED, and is also a sponsor of the SOUTHEND RUGBY CLUB.

Our Chairman's statement

I have just attended four trade shows both in the USA and Europe. Visitors from all over the world attended - the true United Nations of businessmen! We all got along famously....if only the world outside the exhibition halls could be like it. 

I sensed a general desire to get back on track in business and to forget financial crises, terrorism, bank obstructions, etc. Just let's get on and do business - wonderful! 

We at Hi-Tec are displaying the same sense of optimism through a gallery of new investments, in new designs, new offices, new locations and new executives. There is a lot going on here right now and the future looks great! We will shortly occupy a large new head office in Amsterdam in the Netherlands which we will call our Centre of Excellence. Amsterdam has become quite a European sports footwear centre with many of our competitors also in the vicinity. We hope to tap into the young, vibrant and creative talent that is abundantly available over there. 

Our new Athletic and Court Performance ranges are selling well, our Golf shoes received a great response at PGA Golf Show in Orlando, Florida, and our Outdoor boots continue to grow in demand worldwide. We are now officially classified as the number two brand globally in rugged outdoor footwear.

Our Magnum division, which supplies footwear to uniformed personnel, is racing ahead with new boot contracts won all over the world. All reasons to feel really blessed. 

To all our readers in the approximately 85 countries that we sell to, I extend a very warm welcome in our new offices around the world. You make our success happen. We are grateful.

I'd love to hear from you, so email me on fvw@hi-tecsports.com