Lindsey Vonn and Tom Foley Join ISPO 2026 Leaders’ Summit
ISPO, the world’s most influential trade event for the sporting goods, outdoor and winter sports industries, has unveiled the first major details of its new Leaders’ Summit, confirming the participation of global industry heavyweight Tom Foley, CEO of INTERSPORT International Corporation (IIC), and legendary alpine skier and Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn. Their inclusion marks a significant milestone as ISPO prepares for a comprehensive transformation in 2026, backed by a €3 million investment from organisers Raccoon Media Group and Messe München.
Foley and Vonn will take the stage alongside an elite group of global thought leaders and industry pioneers, including Jimmy Chin (filmmaker and mountaineer), Celine Del Genes (Decathlon – Global Game Changers), Hap Klopp (Founder, The North Face), Professor Laura McAllister (Vice President, UEFA), Andy Rubin (Deputy Chair, Pentland Group), John Lacy (CEO, Burton), and Pia Heidenmark Cook (Former Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Ingka/IKEA).
The ISPO Leaders’ Summit is positioned as an exclusive, C-suite–level forum bringing together senior executives, policymakers and changemakers from across the global sports ecosystem. Through keynote addresses, fireside conversations and panel discussions, speakers will explore critical themes shaping the future of the industry, including fair trade, participation, sustainability and leadership in a rapidly evolving market landscape.
Lindsey Vonn, widely regarded as the most successful female alpine skier in history, brings a unique athlete-leader perspective to the Summit. A four-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medallist, Vonn recently made headlines with her return from retirement to rejoin the U.S. Ski Team, setting her sights on the 2026 Winter Games.
“There are so many parallels between competing at a high level and leading a business. I’m looking forward to joining the Leaders’ Summit in Amsterdam and connecting with the people behind the brands we all love.”
Tom Foley, CEO of INTERSPORT International Corporation, brings more than two decades of global sports retail leadership to the programme. Prior to leading IIC, Foley served as CEO of French retailer Go Sport, oversaw its Middle East operations, and founded the Independent Sports Retailers Alliance in Ireland. His experience navigating complex retail transformations has made him a respected voice on the future of global sports commerce.
Commenting on the Summit’s calibre, Mike Seaman, Group CEO of Raccoon Media Group, said:
“The Leaders Summit will see a veritable who’s who of the industry share decades of experience. There is very little that our speakers haven’t seen or experienced and we’re honoured to have them all attend and share their learnings, insights and knowledge. The Summit is an event not to be missed.”
€1 Million Content Investment to Redefine ISPO 2026 Experience
As part of a broader €3 million reinvention of ISPO from 2026, €1 million has been specifically allocated to content, spanning both the Leaders’ Summit and the wider Expo. This investment underlines ISPO’s ambition to deliver a richer, more immersive and emotionally engaging experience for attendees.
“ISPO 2026 will be so much more than a trade show.” said Kate Jamieson, Content Director at Raccoon Media Group.
“ISPO will meet the needs of the head, the commercial side of what makes our industry vibrant, profitable and thriving. However, we will place equal focus on the heart. Why we do what we do, what drives us every day and what inspires people to move. This will be reflected in the content too, important business insight, coupled with a healthy dose of fun!”
Across all three days of ISPO 2026, visitors can expect a highly interactive show floor featuring activations such as a Rail Jam outside the RAI, a ‘Screen to Summit’ interactive climbing wall, Summit Sprint, The Runway, Avalanche Simulation, Shop of the Future, and VR Powder Run experiences. Four dedicated theatres will deliver curated educational content, while popular ISPO features including Functional Clothing Swap and BrandNew, a Dragon’s Den–style pitch platform for start-ups, will continue.
Additional fringe networking events hosted by leading industry associations will further strengthen ISPO’s role as a central meeting point for the global sporting goods, outdoor and winter sports sectors.
“We are curating an immersive, interactive experience across the three show zones which ensure all attendees walk away engaged and inspired. Ultimately, every component of ISPO 2026 is designed so that attendees leave feeling they’ve experienced something special, and that their time and investment were well spent.” Jamieson adds.