Once upon a time, Harley-Davidson thundered down the American highway like a king on two wheels, its V-twin heartbeat pounding in the chest of freedom. But these days, the rumble’s echoing through corporate boardrooms instead of canyon walls.
Now comes H Partners, the second-largest of the Harley shareholders, storming the gates with a campaign that’s more rebellion than polite proposal. They want CEO Jochen Zeitz out, pronto. They’re also gunning to oust longtime board members Thomas Linebarger and Sara Levinson. According to them, Harley’s not just idling—it’s sputtering.
Harley Shareholders Demand Changes to Address Its Continued Decline
The numbers back their case: Harley’s stock is down 45% over the past year, and the cultural cachet that once made it the ride of rebels has gone cold. H Partners says leadership’s lost the plot—and the pulse of the people who once lived to ride.
Former board member Jared Dourdeville, their man on the inside, already walked out, citing the dilution of company culture and leadership adrift in remote Zoom meetings. To turn up the heat, H Partners launched FreeTheEagle.com, a digital call to arms, hoping to rally fellow shareholders to their cause ahead of the May 14 annual meeting.
Harley-Davidson isn’t just a motorcycle company—it’s a symbol. But symbols only last if someone keeps them shining. H Partners thinks it’s time to polish the badge, tighten the bolts, and get the old machine roaring again. Whether the rest of the crew agrees, we’ll find out soon enough—maybe with the rumble of change, or the silence of status quo.
Sources: Motorcycle.com, Reuters
