Markus Flossmann Returns as CEO of YT Industries

Feb 19, 2024
by Ed Spratt  
photo

YT Industries has announced that founder Markus Flossmann is returning to the position of CEO as Sam Nicols steps down.

In a short press release from YT Industries, the company announced the departure of Sam Nicols and the appointment of Markus Flossmann as CEO. The statement from YT Industries revealed Sam Nicols will be stepping away from the role of CEO with immediate effect. Sam Nicols joined the company as CEO in November 2020 following Markus Flossmann's decision to step aside as CEO after 12 years.

The latest news from YT Industries will see Markus Flossmann back as CEO, where he will "oversee the day-to-day business, and continue the growth of the company he founded back in 2008."

bigquotesI’m back in the driver's seat! After three years of stepping back from operations, I have now returned to my old role as CEO at YT Industries. As the founder, I‘ve never lost my love and passion for my baby and I look forward to taking YT to the next level.— Markus Flossmann, Founder & CEO, YT Industries


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128 Comments
  • 133 7
 It's a case of see you next Tues
  • 32 4
 We'll have to wait and Jeffsy if this is a good idea...
  • 25 4
 I'm hardly Caprativated by this news
  • 16 3
 I zzo like this young pun train!
  • 19 2
 Maybe his return is a Decoy of what is really happening at the YT mill and bike industry overall.
  • 8 1
 Well, the szepter goes back to the roots
  • 6 1
 and the basis of it all is the Dirtlove we all share.
  • 9 1
 That's a load of capra! Best I could come up with.
  • 3 1
 @browner Bravo sir...bravo. **as I slow clap** lol
  • 10 1
 I’m sure iits all not as black and YT as were lead to believe.
  • 3 1
 Wicked.
  • 4 1
 Couldn't wait around any Moir, had to step up again.
  • 7 0
 There will be höll to pay
  • 45 5
 Big @DoubleCrownAddict L. Unfortunately, their blog is now private... but the "YT is run by n*zis" blog is a classic. You can still see the images, though.
  • 12 1
 yes great memory. I forgot about that dissertation.
  • 4 0
 m.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=227030

This?
  • 50 32
 I didn't think there was anything to his conspiracy theory, but passenger is flashing the White power hand signal.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ok-sign-white-power-supremacy-alt-right-4chan-trolling-hoax-a9249846.html

If not intentional then incredibly hamfisted.
  • 4 2
 @freestyIAM: hamfisted in making the sign correctly or hamfisted in doing it at all? Sticking out ones tongue does mean what... hmmm...
  • 96 1
 I mean, y’all do you, but the company is literally named Whitey.
  • 3 0
 @n8shearer: Haha, indeed.
  • 5 6
 @freestyIAM: its also a luciferian / iluminati sign 666...
  • 13 22
flag SlavikChris (Feb 19, 2024 at 11:26) (Below Threshold)
 But they make great bikes!
  • 16 15
 @SlavikChris: Walt made great movies, but he was still a n*zi
  • 37 17
 @dirtmakesmehappy: I mean, if you look hard enough, you can be offended by anything I suppose. I don't have time. I much prefer riding and enjoying my downtime.
  • 13 7
 @SlavikChris: My comment was to point out that there are shitty people behind society’s most cherished products and brands. You can’t spend time damning the curtain—live your life.
  • 18 8
 @freestyIAM: Yeah I noticed it immediately, feels intentional but even if it isn't I'm not sure why they would even take a chance with what has become a well known white power signal.
  • 17 8
 @SlavikChris: I'd argue this is different. It's a well known white power symbol at this point, especially the way he's holding his hand. But other times, yeah, people can take being offended too far.
  • 5 2
 @gemma8788: I guess I’ve never paid attention to this re: the hand gesture.
  • 7 0
 It's almost like they are taunting DCA.
  • 5 0
 @dirtmakesmehappy: Some say the 3 fingers make a W and the circle a P.
  • 11 8
 @suspended-flesh:

In France this is a serious insult and is a homophobic refernce to sexual practices.
In other countries its just "OK".
  • 14 70
flag SlavikChris (Feb 19, 2024 at 12:49) (Below Threshold)
 @cxfahrer2: France has no freedom of speech. Shame what's happened there, and every other western country for that matter.
  • 32 2
 @SlavikChris:
Have you ever been to France mate?
  • 5 0
 @suspended-flesh: WP, YT?
  • 1 0
 I was literally looking for his comment lmao. His posts were beyond entertaining haha. The other classic, Matt P always ragging on mullet bikes. Love the accounts devoted to a certain subject.
  • 19 3
 @freestyIAM: looks like someone is mad because he has „neigschaut“
  • 15 5
 @Stokedonthis: Exactly my thoughts. Probably a German only game. Guys lighten up: There is a game where you hold your hand like this and when somebody else looks through the hole, he has "Neigschaut", then gets a slap on the shoulder. With how the photo is taken, that's exactly what they were doing there.
  • 20 3
 @silvanoe: that’s not a German only game. We play that in the states but the hand is typically below eye level. I don’t think that’s what’s going on in that photo.
  • 9 3
 Idk I’ve seen edgy WW2 enthusiasts all my life and I’ve never heard of a hand signal until 2021, on the internet. Don’t think anybody I’ve met in real life has any clue about the gesture either…
But today we’re learning
  • 27 13
 @freestyIAM: WTF you're right. Whether intentional or not, the passenger *is* flashing the white power symbol.

Yeah, no thanks.
  • 11 1
 @dirtmakesmehappy: The way we played it had to be below waist level.
Not sure how the rest of the world sees this, but neo-nazi groups, "Christian Nationalists," and WW2 enthusiasts (thanks @fewnorfrwgijn for that one!) have adopted this as a way to express their affiliation.
  • 9 2
 @silvanoe: Gotta be below waist level and not up in the air. If I know the rules of the game they know the rules of the game. Stupid move on YT's part.
  • 11 11
 @gemma8788: well known white power symbol, seriously?
Its always meant "ok" to me, I throw it up prolly 10 times a day. I only stumbled on the meaning cause it was mentioned here. So not what I'd call well known.
I believe it also means "a$$hole" in Germany, but could be heresay
  • 14 1
 @onawalk: it means “ok” if the palm is facing the viewer. you’ve never given the “ok” sign with your wrist turned like that.
  • 8 14
flag naptime FL (Feb 19, 2024 at 20:39) (Below Threshold)
 Man, that thread pulled the haters out from under Thier rocks an showed true feelings an intentions of a lot of PB'ers.......
  • 5 4
 @naptime: I forgot about that thread. DCA theatened to 'Cancel' other brands, too. Dude is delusional.
  • 10 2
 @suspended-flesh: well, he is an Ebiker..... :'D
  • 7 5
 @freestyIAM: Wow, I've been doing that for years and no one ever said anything, what does that mean?
  • 7 5
 @fiftypercentsure: Bloody nacis, first they stole swastika and now they tell you this is a white power symbol.
I bet you just looked and you know you lost a round.
  • 3 1
 I remember when everyone jumped on that one guy the last time there was a nazi like symbol on pinkbike.
  • 8 3
 @freestyIAM: Brenton Tarrant (the Christchurch terrorist) did it too:

www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/okay-hand-gesture

Together with the weird rune stuff it sure seems to be fishy.
  • 10 13
 @onawalk: I refrain from using this sign because where I live it means a**hole but I’ve used before in scuba diving and it was “OK” (pun intended)
Never heard this was a white supremacy thing. I learned about it today.
I can’t wait when this spoiled new generation will problematize the “thumbs up”.
  • 15 1
 @mr-fabio: if you look carefully at the white supremacists doing this symbol, they are not confined to 'this spoiled new generation'. As evidenced above plenty of people in the real world don't know it, don't live on 4chan, or some other site where atrocities are fantasized about, and sometimes planned.
  • 5 4
 @browner: That is literally the first time I hear about the OK sign being a white supremacist sign.

I guess I can give the benefit of the doubt to the people in that picture until I know more about them, but it sure looks more suspicious when it is associated by a brand which is pronounced whitey industries and whose linkedin account shows such a lack of diversity, like the first 10 pages only have thumbnails of white people working for the company.

I have never suspected White Industries, the bike part company, of such things because that is simply the name of the founders.
  • 15 5
 @mr-fabio: What are you talking about? It was racists and neo-nazis who started using it, not pb comment section. Will you also accuse "spoiled new generation" of ruining Swastica for you?
  • 2 2
 @dirtmakesmehappy: exactly. Pretty sure there was a South Park episode on this. I remember getting punched in the arm a bunch as a kid because I caught a glimpse of someone’s “OK” hand gesture.
  • 1 0
 @mr-fabio: Thumb up already is an insult in some cultures
  • 1 0
 @rider001: in Iran, Greece, Russia, Sardinia, and parts of West Africa to be exact
  • 8 2
 @mr-fabio: you've never used the exact gesture from that photo while scuba diving. Signed: a scuba diver. Look again. I'm not trying to assume the dude's intentions, just making clear for non-divers reading that is not the way we show "ok" underwater.
  • 7 0
 @bananowy: Also, no one in any context has used this palm-towards-self to signify "okay."
  • 5 12
flag onawalk (Feb 20, 2024 at 10:40) (Below Threshold)
 @pmhobson: We also used this "sign" to get a buddy to "look" then tap them in the balls for looking......I think some people try to look for things to be offended about.
  • 13 2
 @onawalk: everyone knows 'the game', this isn't the game. like kalkhoffkiller said, some of us remember well cowering in our homes and workplaces with sirens blaring after white terrorist slaughtered 51 in Christchurch, and we later shuddered to see this symbol emerge from his straight jacket at sentencing.
  • 3 13
flag fewnofrwgijn (Feb 20, 2024 at 14:15) (Below Threshold)
 @onawalk: I’m pretty sure this whole hand signal thing was literally a meme from several years ago, I remember the first time I saw it, it used bold all-caps impact font and shoddily-drawn red circles posted on an ironic forum. Everybody knows pictures like that are not to be taken seriously
  • 24 0
 Great, now please give me a chainstay for the gen 2 Capra so the frame doesn't just sit in the corner anymore because of a design error
  • 12 0
 They sure must have one left over from the mainframe they gave me.
  • 2 0
 Dang, I got a warranty replacement seatstay delivered 2 weeks ago, claim made in October. It shipped from germany...
  • 1 1
 I had to repair my own rear triangle because they didn't have any. Other than this parts issue, they are a great company.
  • 2 0
 I had the same issue and the frame was not under warranty anymore. They still sent me the chainstay for free and the whole thing took less than 10 days.
  • 19 0
 Does this mark a return to YT's amazing pre-2021 warranty response times?
  • 25 9
 I miss news about people riding bikes...I could give a $h*t about who makes them.
  • 9 3
 Preach.
  • 2 4
 generictrailrider
  • 6 8
 Sorry to burst your bubble, but the CEO doesn't make bikes.
  • 5 4
 @mi-bike: if we're getting that pedantic, then no one person makes bikes
  • 4 2
 @N-60: How so? Lots of bike builders design and build the frames. Most customers want the frames as such but some also have it assembled as a complete bike by the very same bike builder. Or do you mean to say that they might not do the painting/powdercoating themselves and/or they don't make all the components?
  • 4 3
 @vinay: Yeah, somebody builds a frame, somebody builds a fork, somebody builds a rim, but none of them has made a bike. It's a dumb hill to die on for sure, but that was kind of my point haha like nobody thinks that Markus Flossmann is out here firing up the ol' brazing torch
  • 4 0
 @N-60: Markus The Welder
  • 2 2
 Oh its real easy, simply dont click on the article....or read it.....or comment on it...... Seems like you do give a shit, but for some reason want to let us know that you dont, weird, we are a weird bunch sometimes
  • 23 11
 Geez... Yes the YT vibe is on the darker side of things. But calling them Nazis is a bit out there. I've been to some of their events, and never gotten that vibe. And as a German, maybe i take that accusation a bit too close to heart but yea... I don't think you can call them Nazis. Deity's branding is also along the lines of YT with things being more towards the horror movies or whatever you wanna call it. And no one is calling them Nazis. But would that change if they were German?
  • 10 6
 maybe i'm missing something, but i'm also wondering why peeps call someone a nazi when he's also prob just playing a game of "a$$h0le".
  • 1 0
 Evil did the zombie thing before those stupid shows… dunno what to make of that
  • 9 7
 Considering even Putin calls the Ukrainians "nazis", such claims deserve to be taken with dumptruck loads of salt.
  • 15 5
 Yesterday Trash
  • 2 2
 Brilliant
  • 8 0
 Trouble at (the YT ) mill.
  • 7 1
 Yup, why pay someone €100k if you can do it yourself.
  • 4 0
 @rich-2000: 100k? Is that a CEO salary in the UK?
  • 14 2
 @Muckal: no thats a bike industry ceo…
  • 3 0
 @rich-2000: well, then I'll rather pay for bikes and keep my non-management salary.
  • 7 1
 Just another sign that bike sales have slowed so much they still have to make pay roll cuts. Things should get better this year though.
  • 18 2
 Better for who? The bike industry price crash has treated me well the last year....
  • 8 1
 @krka73: hopefully better for the people losing their jobs. I know it aint our fault as consumers but hoping the industry can stabilize, mostly for their sake.
  • 8 0
 It was bound to happen after all it’s not like bikes are really getting that much better lately. Slight geometry changes , wireless shifting and dropper posts, internal frame storage are not that exciting. Bike industry needs to hurry up and get gearboxes on bikes and people will be reaching for their wallets.
  • 3 0
 @krka73: seriously, I just built up a bike for half of what it woulda cost me a year ago.
  • 16 0
 @devinkalt: This is the real reason why the hardcore enthusiasts aren't buying bikes, a distinct lack of innovation. Stick an angleset and 38/Zeb on something like a 2018 Firebird 29 and you've got a bike that's bang up to date. Sure it's not ideal living without a swat box, particularly as your pockets will be bulging with the thousands of pounds saved, but current offerings don't exactly make you want to rush to the bike shop.
  • 5 0
 @rojo-1: But surely you need electronic gears. No, not the older ones, the new ones so you can stand on the rear mech. And possibly electronic suspension. Oh, and a motor and battery of course.
  • 8 0
 @chakaping: Oh yeah, how could I forget the advantages of replacing a lightweight gear cable with a wireless device that does exactly the same job and doesn't contribute to ride enjoyment. I had better upgrade, if I'm really lucky they'll thread the brake hose through my headset at the same time.
  • 4 0
 @rojo-1: Don't tell the bike industry, but I'm still on 11sp mechanical.
And I can honestly see myself keeping my current MTBs for years to come, now that geometry has matured and settled down in its middle age.
  • 3 1
 @rojo-1: Now that bikes have gotten longer, the length you need for the gear cable to make it all the way from shifter to mech weights considerably more than the additional weight of batteries, servos, transmitter, receiver and the system to protect itself as those powered mechs otherwise won't move out the way in case of impact as regular mechanical mechs do.

If you were wondering whether I am taking the piss, yes I am. If you're wondering whether I've ever written a longer sentence, maybe not. Until they release a repeater (range extender) halfway to amplify the signal between shifter and mech. Then I promise I'll top it off with an even longer sentence. Obviously with a range extender to make sure the first capital is still connected to the period at the end. Writing a sensible comment is for another day.
  • 2 0
 @rojo-1: Not too mention the joys of replacing the long-low-slack bike you bought last year with the shorter one that has the geometry of five years ago...
  • 6 0
 hopefully it means YT will drop their pricing back inline with Canyon etc... YT used to be good value here in NZ, now its poor.
  • 1 2
 The current offers for Decoy and Tues are a no-brainer! 3 years ago the bikes would have been sold out the next day...
  • 17 9
 Who's the guy in the passenger seat giving the OK/ White Power hand sign?
  • 3 6
 Until this comment section, I didn't know about "ok" sign. Same as I didn't know that rainbow is gay. I want rainbow be cool again and ok sign with it.
  • 6 1
 Has YT Industries ever responded to the allegations that their branding is viewed by some as aligned white power symbols?
  • 6 2
 So is this the n@zi who was throwing up the white power aumbol and named his company White-Ey bikes?
  • 2 0
 interesting, hand gesture is also known as Gyan mudra, for quite some time.


www.yogapedia.com/definition/6444/gyan-mudra
  • 2 0
 Running a bike co in this economy? Markus, Y T yourself up for failure? Actually, he’s gonna look like a hero presiding over the inevitable rebound.
  • 3 1
 good, as feel YT lost their way the past few years. getting steve jobs / apple vibes
  • 3 1
 This article reminded me of all the times apple called jobs back to fix the company
  • 4 1
 Is there any candy in that van?
  • 2 0
 or free hugs?
  • 6 4
 I rode a '19 Decoy for four years before selling it. Great and extremely reliable bike.
  • 1 0
 Now hopefully they can stock/ restock bikes for sale, and not hold demo days with no chance to ever purchase one of the bikes you demo
  • 3 1
 Maybe he will make their web site more user friendly....
  • 2 0
 I just hope my new Izzo ships on time.
  • 2 2
 Boss! I love that Markus is a passionate rider. We rode in Kamloops and the North Shore after CWX last summer and he rode some near vertical lines! Respect.
  • 1 0
 @browner

Or, the week after that
  • 1 1
 'Boomerang CEOs' is the term y'all should Google, but if NS can get its act together--surely YT can too?
  • 2 0
 Who?
  • 1 0
 Is it that relevant?
  • 1 0
 Take it Izzo
  • 1 0
 Ninja edit: nevermind
  • 1 2
 Markus “Bob Iger” Flossman
  • 1 2
 Is this a Putin-Medwedew scheme?
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