Adidas promotes Euro boss to run US division

Sportswear giant Adidas-Salomon has promoted head of global marketing Erich Stamminger to president and chief executive of Adidas America. He will combine responsibility for North America with overseeing the brand’s other core markets, such as Europe.

Stamminger replaces Adidas America chief executive Ross McMullin, who is leaving for health reasons. Stamminger has spent a significant amount of time in the US since September and he will now relocate to Adidas’ headquarters at Portland, Oregon. He will continue to report to Adidas-Salomon chairman and chief executive Herbert Hainer.

Adidas hopes that Stamminger can bring its global marketing department closer to the American division. The brand is expected to increase its focus on the US market, where it trails behind Nike and Reebok.

A spokesman for the company’s European marketing team says that the organisation will not be affected by Stamminger’s promotion. He adds that former global head of advertising Nicholas Baddour, who left the company in the summer, has not been replaced and that head of global brand communications Ulrich Becker now handles his responsibilities.

Stamminger has been with Adidas for 20 years and took over as global head of marketing in January 2000. He joined the company’s executive board in March 1997.

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