The German sporting goods supplier Puma SE has found the new in-house manager for its European business. On Wednesday, the company announced the appointment of Javier Ortega as General Manager Europe. The 51-year-old has been with Puma since 2009 and most recently managed the business in Southern Europe as Area General Manager.
Ortega will take up his new post on September 1 and will thereafter be responsible for the Central Europe, France, UK & Ireland, Southern Europe and Northern Europe regions, Puma said. As General Manager Europe, he succeeds Richard Teyssier, who was recently promoted to Global Brand & Marketing Director of the company.
Esteve Planas returns to Puma as Area General Manager Southern Europe
Puma CEO Arne Freundt justified the personnel decision: “In his time as Area General Manager in Southern Europe, Javier did a great job strengthening the Puma brand and driving our growth in Southern Europe,” he said in a statement. “In his new role as General Manager Europe, Javier will build on the region’s strong momentum, strengthen our position as the best partner for our wholesalers and coordinate the go-to-market process.”
Esteve Planas will take over Ortega’s previous position. The 47-year-old had already worked for the sports goods company from 2010 to 2022 and during this time he was, among other things, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Puma Spain and Puma Iberia. After a brief stopover at the pharmaceutical company Galenicum, he is now returning to Puma as Area General Manager Southern Europe.