The British JD Group, the parent company of sporting goods giant JD Sports, has confirmed the departure of its Managing Director Michael Armstrong. The promotion of Paul Orange to become the new Managing Director of JD EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) was subsequently announced.
Armstrong’s departure comes more than 30 years after he joined JD. Three years ago he took over the position of Managing Director. In a statement to FashionUnited, JD said Armstrong would “pursue other opportunities.” “We sincerely thank Michael for his commitment, leadership and contributions to JD,” the statement continued.
Following his departure, the company now appears to be dividing Armstrong’s role. Orange previously served as general manager for the EMEA region at JD. He will now take full responsibility for the region. This includes managing purchasing, own brands and marketing. He will also be responsible for merchandising, the digital area, managing the support functions and the country managers.
The company said Orange “brings more than 20 years of experience to JD and has been an integral part of our growth story. He also played a key leadership role in its “early expansion in Europe.”
His promotion comes amid a lengthy period of expansion for JD. The company has expanded its presence in the United States and Central and Eastern Europe throughout 2025. It has been operating over 65 branches there since July 2025. A new e-commerce platform was also launched in Italy during this period. A distribution center was also opened in the Netherlands to strengthen the capacities of the European branches.
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