BERLIN (AP) — Adidas has appointed Bjørn Gulden, the CEO of rival Puma, as its new chief govt, and he’ll take over the German sportswear model in January as the corporate weathers the fallout from its cut up with the rapper previously referred to as Kanye West.
Gulden will substitute Kasper Rorsted, Adidas’ CEO since 2016, whose departure was introduced in August. Adidas stated on the time that Rorsted would hand over through the course of subsequent yr however stated on Tuesday that he and the supervisory board “mutually agreed” that he’ll step down and depart the corporate Friday.
Chief Financial Officer Harm Ohlmeyer will head Adidas till the tip of the yr. He takes the helm quickly after the corporate ended a partnership with Ye late final month amid mounting outcry over the rapper’s offensive and antisemitic remarks.
Adidas, which adopted different firms in slicing ties with Ye, is anticipated to take successful of as much as 250 million euros ({dollars}) to its internet earnings this yr from the choice to instantly cease manufacturing of its line of Yeezy merchandise and is left trying to find one other star to assist it compete with ever-larger rival Nike.
Gulden, a 57-year-old Norwegian who was as soon as an expert soccer and handball participant, has been Puma’s CEO since 2013. He has labored at Adidas earlier than and was its senior vice chairman of attire and equipment from 1992 to 1999.
He additionally has served as CEO of Danish jewellery model Pandora, managing director of footwear retailer Deichmann and president of Rack Room Shoes and is board chairman at Danish meals retailer Salling Group.
Gulden “knows the industry extremely well and draws on a rich network in sport and retail,” Adidas supervisory board chairman Thomas Rabe stated in a press release.
“As CEO of Puma, he reinvigorated the brand and led the company to record results,” Rabe stated, including that the Adidas board “is convinced that Bjørn Gulden will head Adidas into a new era of strength and is looking very much forward to a successful cooperation.”
Puma, which like Adidas relies within the southern German city of Herzogenaurach, stated its chief business officer, Arne Freundt, will substitute Gulden as its CEO.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”