Johan Eliasch is a Swedish-British businessman, investor, and sports executive born in 1962 in Djursholm, Sweden. Known for his long career in international business, he is particularly associated with the transformation of the sports equipment company Head, as well as with his more recent leadership position within global winter sports. His background combines economics, engineering and management, which shaped his early career in investment and corporate restructuring when he moved to London in the mid-1980s.
Eliasch became widely visible in 1995 when he acquired Head, then a struggling manufacturer of tennis and ski equipment. Under his leadership as CEO, the company was repositioned as a major global brand, modernising its product lines, streamlining operations and strengthening its presence in professional sports. He remained at the head of the company for more than two decades before transitioning to the role of chairman. In 2021, he was elected president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), reflecting his longstanding involvement in winter sports and his interest in shaping its governance and future development.
Beyond business, Eliasch has been active in environmental and philanthropic initiatives. He co-founded the organisation Cool Earth, which supports the preservation of at-risk rainforest areas, and has taken part in various initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable forest management. His personal purchase of a large area of Amazonian forest in the mid-2000s brought attention to his conservation efforts but also sparked debate on private environmental ownership and the social implications for local communities.
Johan Eliasch recently made headlines for his campaign to make future Olympic Winter Games more environmentally friendly, signalling his push to align elite sport with climate action.
Throughout his career, Eliasch has occasionally been the subject of controversy, particularly regarding the potential overlap between his business interests and his role in sports governance. Nevertheless, he remains a significant figure at the intersection of global business, international sport and environmental advocacy. His profile reflects the growing influence of private actors in sectors traditionally driven by public or non-profit institutions.
Anecdotes
In 2005, Johan Eliasch purchased around 160,000 hectares of Amazon rainforest in 2005 with the stated intention of protecting the area from deforestation.
