Yohann Kelkel
Snowboard product manager & Industry consultant · Halo
Passy, 74
In My Own Words
Seasoned sports industry professional with 16 years of diverse experience driving innovation, engineering, and project management for leading outdoor product brands. Passionate about leveraging my technical expertise and people management skills to deliver transformative results.
As a research and development engineer, I spearheaded the development of several award-winning product lines, securing multiple patents for novel designs. I then transitioned into product and offers management, where I built a reputation for creating customer-centric solutions that drove significant revenue growth.
In recent years, I've applied my broad industry knowledge and leadership abilities to coaching individuals on career development and relationship building. I also provide holistic consulting services to companies, guiding them through the process of conceptualizing and executing innovative, market-disrupting projects.
With a proven track record of success across diverse functional areas, I am well-positioned to make an immediate impact in a high-impact role. I am eager to leverage my unique blend of technical acumen, business savvy, and people management skills to help your organization achieve its strategic objectives.
Work Experience
Snowboard product manager & Industry consultant
Halo2025 – Present
I support Halo’s (poweredbyhalo.com) expansion within the snowsports industry by identifying growth opportunities, building strategic partnerships, and aligning their innovative solutions with the unique demands of the market. My focus is on developing tailored strategies and leveraging industry insights to enhance Halo’s presence and impact in the snowsports sector.
Snowboard product manager
DECATHLON - SNOWBOARDING2017 – Present
Understand snowboarders needs in order to build for them a profitable worldwide offer and range of boards, bindings, boots, Outwear, Sweatshirts and Gloves (Women, Men and kids). Also working on helmets and body protection for ski, mountain biking and snowboard users. From a product master plan I define, we work as a team with product engineers, model makers , retail supplier, merchandiser and designers in order to bring a collection to life.
Snowboard product manager
Myopencomm.com2024 – Present
BUSINESS CONSULTING Supporting you and your business to grow and flourish I am dedicated to providing comprehensive and integrative guidance that considers the whole person or organization. My approach is based on the belief that true progress comes from addressing all facets of your life or business — physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
SPORTS AGENT & MENTOR Enhancing your success outside of your sport so you can focus on doing what you love most. I take a personal approach to support you, elevating your financial and professional success. I set up tailored communication strategies to help you work with your coach, team, and sponsors. I help you become the best version of yourself and enhance your post-sports career opportunities.
Volunteer Firefighter
SDIS742019 – Present
Volunteer firefighter in the French firefighter Haute Savoie district , combining medical and fire rescues.
Business developper winter sports
Decathlon USA2019 – 2023
Managing US offer and business development for winter sports B2B and B2C strategies
Web and Multimedia Author @snowsurfmag
Nivéales Media2014 – 2021
Web, paper author and multimedia editor for Snowsurf magazine.
Co-Funder and CCO
Airnshop2012 – 2018
http://www.airnshop.com Airnshop is the ultimate shopping experience, connecting the best shoppers in the world and helping you shop without borders. Our passion is delivering you inspiring products usually only accessible to locals or travelers. We give you access to the best products from the confort of your Home !
Model maker technical director
Decathlon USA2016 – 2017
Managing a team of 5 pattern maker working with the technical direction in garment development for the ski and snowboard brand Wed'ze in Decathlon. Coaching and helping my team progress within the brand , company and their professional careers. Writing strategies collaboratively to innovate in the futur of garment development. For Wed'ze SKI and SNOWBOARD brand.
Snowboard outwear product manager
Decathlon USA2016 – 2017
Understand snowboarders needs in order to build for them a profitable worldwide offer and range of Outwear, Sweatshirts and Gloves (Women, Men and kids). From a product master plan I define we work as a team with product engineer, model maker , retail supplier, merchandiser and a designer in order to bring a collection to life.
Brand project director
Decathlon USA2014 – 2017
Making all brand processes run smoothly from international retail to design by taking strategic decisions on planning, objectives, projects and workloads. For Wed'ze SKI and SNOWBOARD brand.
Brand innovation manager
Decathlon USA2014 – 2017
Writing and managing the brand innovation plan with a specific budget in order to lay out priorities for the futur innovations according to global market, futur technologies and brand business plan. For Wed'ze SKI and SNOWBOARD brand.
Certification team manager
Decathlon USA2014 – 2016
Managing a team of engineers who have in charge product certification from development to final validation on the field. (Hard goods and Garments) for Wed'ze SKI and SNOWBOARD Brand
Product developper
Decathlon USA2013 – 2014
Collaborating with a product manager, a designer, a pattern maker and a supply manager, I am in charge of design and industrialisation for a defined offer of innovatives and technical products for Wed'ze (SKI and SNOWBOARD BRAND).
Research&Development laboratory manager
Decathlon USA2012 – 2013
Managing creation of a R&D project for mountain product development brands Quechua, Wed'ze and Simond. Writing research projects and partnership policy, integrating human body research into product development strategies. Research areas ranging from thermal sciences through biomechanics to traumatology.
Research&Development labortaroy manager
Decathlon USA2011 – 2012
Managing a team of 6 engineers and Phds. Building R&D strategies for textile and heavystiching innovations. Managing research areas such as anthropometry, morphology, ergonomy, performance, 3D numerical models for technical textile simulation and validation.
Research and innovation engineer
Decathlon USA2009 – 2011
Responsible for coordinating innovative product development projects, working in team with product engineers, product managers and designers. Managing testing engineers, trainees and external research partners for conduc- ting research and validation experiments in the fields of biomechanics for hard, heavy stitching and soft sports goods.
Testing engineer
Decathlon USA2008 – 2009
Responsible for sourcing and validating innovative 3D anthropometric measurement tools. Organizing and managing internationnal measurement campaign (China, Spain, Italie)
Research engineer
PROTEOR2007 – 2008
End of master research project on functional gait analysis of transfemoral amputees. Digital simulation of physical phenomena , modelling, analysis and mechanical optimization of systems, assistance with design and dimensioning of structures.
Education
Research master
Arts et Métiers ParisTech - École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers2007 – 2008
Research master
Projects
Ghost reactive protection
https://youtu.be/ZNLlMSAI6Hs?si=6tVsUFJtmPU1Jm35Innovating in increasing our users sport lifespan by inventing with D3O the best invisible back protection on the market
Enzo Valax pro model
https://youtu.be/XrMgdCMaQKA?si=nF6jWiZ9Am1kE4RfWorking with a world class athlete to develop a freestyle board to go to Milan Olympics in 2026
Sacha Balicco pro model
https://youtu.be/07wpKsR6kYg?si=KwdXiacUDN1B51ZUDeveloping a allmountain freeride board to bring Sacha to the world tour in 2026 after a successful season on the challengers.
Interests
Skills
Industries
Activity
Recent posts, comments and shares.