BLACKROLL® Opens a New Chapter
BLACKROLL® Opens a New Chapter: A Management Buyout and a New CEO Drive the Strategic Vision Forward
As a leading provider of innovative health and regeneration products, we are pleased to announce, following a very successful year, a new milestone in BLACKROLL®’s history: as part of a management buyout (MBO), BLACKROLL® is partnering with private equity investor KKA Partners. At the same time, Scott Zalaznik, an international expert in growth, transformation, and digitalization, is taking on the role of CEO. Alongside Scott, the executive team will consist of founder Marius Keckeisen as well as current executive board members Thomas Viegener and Andreas Mauch. For us, this development marks the beginning of a new chapter, aimed at accelerating our strategic vision and taking BLACKROLL® to the next level.
Scott Zalaznik and Marius Keckeisen (left to right) are leading BLACKROLL® into the future
KKA Partners: An Exceptional Partner for an Exceptional Vision
With a focus on long-term partnerships and targeted strategic support, as well as a passion for innovative companies, KKA Partners holds an exclusive portfolio of investments—of which we are now a part.
“With KKA Partners, we have found a partner that not only believes in our strategy and corporate culture, but also shares our enthusiasm for our vision: to help people live healthier, more active, and more productive lives,”
, says Marius Keckeisen, founder of BLACKROLL AG. “Their expertise, network, and support will enable us to continue driving our growth in a focused manner and set new standards.”
The new CEO brings strategic momentum
As part of the MBO process, we were able to secure another major win: Scott Zalaznik, former Chief Digital Officer at adidas and a recognized expert in omnichannel growth and digital transformation, discovered BLACKROLL® alongside KKA Partners and quickly became enthusiastic about our brand, our products, our purpose, and our corporate culture. “Scott Zalaznik not only brings in-depth expertise but also shares our clear vision for the future of BLACKROLL®. He is the ideal choice to drive our digital initiative and data-driven strategy forward,” explains Marius Keckeisen.
Scott Zalaznik, the new CEO of BLACKROLL®, comments: “I am truly delighted to join the BLACKROLL® family. This allows me to fulfill my personal dream of returning to entrepreneurship.
“BLACKROLL® has established itself as an innovator in the health and sports sector, and I am impressed by the premium brand, the excellent brand and distribution partners, the remarkable products, and, last but not least, by Marius and the team with their passion, culture, and capacity for innovation. Together, we will continue to write this success story.”
A Solid Foundation for Future Growth
The MBO and the change in CEO not only mark the beginning of a new chapter but also underscore the strength and stability of our brand.
The long-standing management team will work closely with the new investors, Scott Zalaznik and former CEO Marius Keckeisen—who, as a new member of the executive board, will now serve as Chief Innovation Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors—to achieve our ambitious goals. In addition to continuing our expansion into international markets, we are focusing on product innovations in the areas of active and passive regeneration, new digital offerings, and strengthening our ecosystem—which comprises our community, customers, ambassadors, and the brand.
About BLACKROLL®
BLACKROLL®, founded in 2007 by Jürgen Dürr, has established itself globally as the market leader in innovative recovery and movement products. In 2013, BLACKROLL AG was founded by Jürgen Dürr and Marius Keckeisen, who serves as CEO, to drive the company’s growth and international expansion.
Thanks to quality, innovation, and a clear purpose, BLACKROLL® has built a reputation as the leading “recovery brand” and established the generic term “BLACKROLL.” With a comprehensive range of tools and concepts for fitness, recovery, and sleep, the products promote well-being, recovery, and performance for people in more than 57 countries.
Close collaboration with experts in sports science, physical therapy, and medicine ensures the highest quality and effectiveness. In addition, thousands of trained coaches worldwide possess the expertise needed to teach the effective use of the products. Sustainability and social responsibility shape our values, which are reflected in environmentally friendly production and fair treatment of partners and customers.
BLACKROLL® brings a new dimension to movement, recovery, and sleep.
About KKA
KKA Partners was founded in 2018 and is a Berlin-based SME investment firm that invests in leading mid-sized companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
The founding partners have a deep-rooted personal and professional affinity for SMEs, which they have developed over more than 20 years of close collaboration with mid-sized companies.
KKA supports growth-oriented companies in reaching their full potential by combining operational excellence with its own technology-driven value creation strategies. Leading investors worldwide, including the European Investment Fund (“EIF”), entrust their capital to the KKA team. This transaction also benefits from the support of the European Union through the InvestEU Fund.
We look forward to our shared future with KKA and Scott as part of the BLACKROLL® family!