Former Puma CEO Bjørn Gulden will officially become the new CEO at competitor Adidas. The change will be completed on January 1st next year, Adidas announced on Tuesday in Herzogenaurach.
The current Adidas managing director Kasper Rorsted will leave the company at the end of this week on November 11th, it was said. Until the takeover by Gulden, CFO Harm Ohlmeyer will take over the helm at the three-stripe mark for the rest of the year.
It was already announced on Friday that Adidas
of all things
speaks to Björn Gulden, boss of rival Puma. Puma also confirmed that Gulden is leaving the company.
“I think now is the right time for Puma, for my successor and for me to leave the company,” commentedGulden his departure on Friday. “I still have a lot of energy for an operational role for the next five to ten years, but that would have been too long for Puma.”
Return to Adidas
For the former football and handball professional Gulden, the engagement at Adidas is a return. From 1992 to 1999 he was responsible for clothing and accessories. Gulden was also the German managing director of the shoe retailer Deichmann and chairman of the board of the Danish jewelery manufacturer Pandora as well as manager at the outdoor brand Helly Hansen.
The change to Adidas is spicy. Puma and Adidas have been rivals for decades. The founder brothers Adolf (Adidas) and Rudolf (Puma) Dassler were considered deeply at odds.
The departure of Rorsted, once celebrated for economic success but recently a hapless group leader at Adidas, is in place fixed since August. Among other things, major shareholders blamed him for mistakes in the important China business. His management style is also said to have met with criticism in Herzogenaurach.
New boss for Puma
Gulden looks back with satisfaction on his time at the helm of Puma: “I had nine excellent years with the Puma family and I am very proud of what we have achieved together,” said Gulden. “Even in the tougher times, we’ve had great momentum and delivered record sales and earnings results.”
Gulden’s successor at Puma has already been determined. With immediate effect, the previous Chief Commercial Officer Arne Freundt will take over as CEO, Puma announced on Tuesday. The 42-year-old has been working for Puma for more than ten years since June and has now received a four-year contract as managing director. (dpa / FashionUnited)
Editor’s Note: This post was updated at 1:33pm on November 8th with more information from Adidas and Puma.