Athletic Performance Company Veo Strip Announces Tom Kelley as CEO

January 13, 2025

PORTLAND, Oregon — January 13, 2025 /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Veo Strip, a start-up that created an innovative product to keep sweat from affecting an athlete’s vision during physical activities, today announced Tom Kelley as the company’s first CEO to lead all facets of the company.

Kelley’s business career spans more than 25 years in executive leadership roles with deep experience across marketing, advertising, product, digital media, and retail. He joins Veo Strip after serving as CEO at Revival House, a creative agency specializing in sports, entertainment, and lifestyle, working deeply with sports and consumer brands such as Draft Kings. Kelley worked for 15 years at Nike, leading marketing in North America for the company’s wholesale retail partners and the Jordan brand. Before Nike, he led consumer marketing for digital media pioneers Photoworks and RealNetworks. Kelley also led Nike’s advertising at the iconic creative agency Wieden+Kennedy. Kelley also serves as the Chair of the Board for the University of Oregon’s Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.

“I am excited to lead Veo Strip and drive our vision that puts our athletes’ needs at the heart of everything we do,” said Kelley. “Sweating is essential to human physiology, but it can cause distraction or worse if it affects your vision during a run or ride. The current solutions, like headbands, are probably the only piece of performance equipment that works the same as when they were invented 100 years ago. Today, we have devoted and passionate customers who trust Veo Strips to end this common workout-related problem. We look forward to introducing and helping more athletes eliminate sweat’s distraction so they can focus on their performance more efficiently and safely.”

The patented featherweight Veo Strip adheres to the forehead before a workout to channel sweat, moisture, and even sunscreen away from the eyes to prevent it from affecting an athlete’s vision and focus. Veo Strip prevents sweat from getting into the eyes or dripping on glasses, eliminating the need for heat-trapping headbands and hats. Unlike these conventional options, which can become saturated with sweat and drip and increase body temperature by preventing airflow, Veo strips help maintain optimal performance during exercise.

Company founder Jim Shapiro developed the idea for Veo Strip to address the eye-stinging and vision-blurring sweat he regularly fought on an otherwise favorite mountain bike trail in the Lake Tahoe basin.

“Tom brings the leadership, deep experience in the sports business, and the vision needed to accelerate our growth and take our mission to the next level,” said Shapiro, who has served as the company’s top executive since creating Veo Strip in 2012. “His passion for empowering athletes aligns perfectly with our core values. I couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with Tom to expand the use of Veo Strip and create better performance and more enjoyable experiences for athletes.”

Learn more about Veo Strip at www.veostrip.com.

About Veo Strip
Veo Strip is a start-up that created an innovative product for one purpose—to keep sweat from affecting an athlete’s vision during physical activities. Veo Strips are comfortable, unobtrusive, and indispensable for athletes who demand focus and peak performance. Learn more at www.veostrip.com.