Former Leopard GM Nygaard named press chief for GreenEdge

Brian Nygaard — the former general manager at Leopard-Trek who left that team soon after it announced it was merging with RadioShack for 2012 — has been confirmed as the new communications director at Aussie start-up GreenEdge.

Nygaard worked as a press attache alongside Bjarne Riis for eight years before leaving Saxo Bank to join Team Sky, only to leave that team in 2010 to help create Leopard-Trek.

In a press release, Shayne Bannan, GreenEdge General Manager, said Nygaard’s experience in leading the communications for one of the world’s most respected teams and having gone through the process of getting a new team on the road makes him an important addition to his management team.

“We’re delighted to have someone with Brian’s experience on the team,” Bannan said. “Although we’re a predominately Australian team, we’re an international team both on and off the road. Beyond the technical elements of the job, Brian knows cycling and speaks a number of languages, which will help us tell our story around the globe.”

Nygaard, who was born and raised in Denmark but now lives in Italy, says he’s excited about being part of an Australian team.

“I’ve worked with a number of Australians in previous roles and have always admired their approach to the sport, and life in general, so I’m thrilled to be part of the GreenEdge team. After having met Shayne and seeing the scope of this project, I feel proud to be asked to be part of this new challenge,” Nygaard said in a release.

GreenEDGE Cycling is aiming to become the first Australian team to join the UCI World Tour in 2012.