A Passion for Sport and Merchandising

At Decathlon Belgium, the "Free." project continues to surprise us with its diverse and passionate talents. Today, we are excited to introduce Éric Cuenot, a recent addition to the team who brings with him extensive experience and an unwavering love for sports.

At 50 years old, Éric Cuenot is married and a sports enthusiast, a passion that led him to walk through the doors of Decathlon 24 years ago. After 16 years working in-store, he decided to follow his passion for sports by joining the Kalenji brand in 2017. Initially hired to cover a maternity leave, Éric quickly established himself thanks to his expertise and dedication, becoming a key player in the merchandising and product training teams.

“I have worked hand in hand with the brand for 6-7 years, so ultimately, the integration was very natural,”he explains. His transition to Kalenji, and later to Evadict, was seamless due to his many contributions as a product trainer and brand ambassador.

Over the years, Éric expanded his responsibilities, from communications for brand launches to organizing events, and later taking on merchandising for trail running. His role evolved further with the unification of sports under the Kiprun and Evadict brand names, where he managed the merchandising of accessories such as socks, hydration gear, and more.

After 7 years in this team, Éric felt the need for new challenges, leading him to join the "Free." project. "I spoke with Sam, and the project interested me because it aligned with my philosophy," he shares. Always eager to learn new things, Éric saw this opportunity as a way to continue his growth.

Éric joined the "Free." project just a month and a half ago, but he already feels right at home. He appreciates the new organization, even though it differs from anything he has experienced before. "It's a big change because it’s a different organization, a different way of doing things, different benchmarks," he confides.

Remote work is also a new experience that suits him well, allowing him to focus more on his projects and manage his time more flexibly.

Outside of work, Éric is a true sports enthusiast. For over 15 years, he has been running and trail running, participating in ultra-long-distance races around the world. "It was a way to challenge myself, define myself, discover new landscapes, and escape," he explains. Through these competitions, Éric has traveled and taken on many personal challenges, sometimes running more than 170 kilometers in a single race.

Over time, he has shifted his approach to racing, now preferring events that combine enjoyment with exploring new landscapes. "Today, I've changed my trail running practice and focus more on races where you can really enjoy the journey," he notes.

Beyond his passion for sports, Éric loves to share his knowledge and support others. His sense of service and his desire to share are values he finds strongly reflected in the "Free." project. "This is something I also found in the project and that interests me," he emphasizes.

Since joining, he has been thrilled with the team spirit and responsiveness that characterize "Free." "What I appreciate is the quick response we have with each other, these exchanges, this trust," he says. Each day is an opportunity for him to learn something new.

For anyone thinking of joining the "Free." team, Éric emphasizes the importance of being open to continuous learning and maintaining a strong team spirit. "Be ready to learn every day and share your knowledge with others," he advises.

With Éric Cuenot, the "Free." project gains a passionate, experienced member eager to contribute to collective success. We look forward to seeing how he continues to enrich our team with his passion and expertise. Stay tuned to discover more inspiring talents within our "Free." project!