New Balance Hires Greg Labanowski for Tennis Division
The Boston-based athletic brand appoints the former Nike manager to lead its growing tennis product line.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Tennis
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New Balance has hired Greg Labanowski to serve as its new senior product manager for tennis. The appointment at the company's Boston headquarters signals a strategic push to expand its footprint in the professional and amateur tennis market.
Why it matters
The move reflects New Balance's intent to grow its tennis division by leveraging industry expertise from a veteran of major apparel brands. Strengthening leadership in this category positions the company to better compete for market share in high-performance court gear.
Greg Labanowski brings four years of experience from his recent tenure at Nike. He previously worked for the United States Tennis Association from 2017 to 2019 and held a role in business development at Playfly Sports.
The players
New Balance
This Boston-based global athletic footwear and apparel company is known for its performance gear and expanding presence in court sports.
Greg Labanowski
He is the newly appointed senior product manager for tennis who previously served in roles at Nike, the USTA, and Playfly Sports.
Nike
This multinational corporation designs and manufactures a wide range of athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment for global distribution.
United States Tennis Association
This national governing body oversees the development and growth of tennis in the United States and manages the U.S. Open.
The details
Labanowski announced his transition to the Boston-based brand through a message posted on LinkedIn. His professional background includes collegiate experience as a member of the USC men's tennis team.
Timeline
Labanowski worked for the United States Tennis Association from 2017 to 2019.
Labanowski joined Nike in 2022.
New Balance hired Labanowski in October 2026.
Season Trajectory
This leadership hire aligns with a broader industry push where athletic brands are aggressively investing in tennis-specific product lines to match surging consumer interest. Strengthening the internal team positions the brand to gain ground in a competitive market segment currently dominated by traditional court-sport stalwarts.
Consumers can expect a ramp-up in new tennis-specific performance footwear and apparel designs in the coming seasons. The appointment suggests a long-term commitment by the manufacturer to refine its court-ready gear catalog.
The takeaway
Companies often signal their future market focus by importing specialized talent from larger established competitors. Interested consumers should keep an eye on product releases from the brand in the coming year to see how this leadership shift influences design.
Further reading
For more background on developments in the sport, visit Tennis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sgbonline.
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