Harley-Davidson appoints two new members to its board
Turnover at the top of the leadership ranks continues at Harley-Davidson, as the motorcycle maker announced the appointment of two new independent board members, this coming on the heels of two directors retiring and a recent CEO change.
The Motor Company announced the appointment of Daniel Nova and Matt Reintjes to the board on Sept. 15. Nova currently is a general partner at venture capital firm Highland Capital Partners. Reintjes is president and CEO of cooler and drinkware manufacturer YETI.
The two are replacing longtime directors, Sara Levinson and Norman Thomas Linebarger. A Milwaukee business journal, BizTimes, reported that the two former directors both stepped away on Sept. 14, and both were targets of investor H Partners’ open criticism of H-D leadership.
With the addition of two new directors, Harley-Davidson has now added four new independent members to its nine-member board in the last three years. In August, the company announced Artie Starrs, former CEO of Topgolf, as its new president and CEO, replacing former chief executive Jochen Zeitz.
“Daniel [Nova] and Matt [Reintjes] distinguished themselves during our search with their broad business expertise spanning commercial strategy, brand and product development, operations, supply chain, and finance. These are skills that will be invaluable to Harley-Davidson, the board, and Artie Starrs, as he steps into the CEO role later this year,” says Troy Alstead, presiding director.
Reintjes has served as president and CEO of YETI since 2015, during which he saw over his company’s transformation into a leading global outdoor brand with a growing international customer base. He previously held executive roles at Vista Outdoor and Danaher Corporation, building a reputation in product innovation and operational excellence.
Nova has served as a general partner at Highland since 1999, where he’s played a large role advising companies through periods of transition. He has extensive board experience at public companies, including thredUP and Eversource Energy, where he was named lead independent trustee in 2024.
The two new board members step into the middle of Harley-Davidson’s restructuring plan, one that will focus on electric motorcycles, a broader product lineup for younger and more diverse riders, and expanded global market penetration, particularly in Asia.
