adidas
The Supervisory Board of German sportswear giant adidas has announced that it has extended the term of Chief Executive Officer Bjørn Gulden through the end of 2030.
Bjørn Gulden officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of adidas on January 1, 2023. Prior to this, he served as Chief Executive Officer of German sports brand Puma, where he made significant contributions to the brand’s revival.
Thomas Rabe, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of adidas, stated: “With his extensive experience, deep understanding of the industry, strong leadership, and clear focus on high-quality growth, Bjørn Gulden has successfully driven the transformation of adidas over the past three years. Under his leadership, adidas has achieved outstanding operational and financial progress in a challenging environment, laying a solid foundation for sustainable revenue and profit growth in the future. The contract extension underscores the importance we attach to management continuity and stability, as well as the ongoing trust-based cooperation between the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board. We are confident that Bjørn Gulden, together with his Executive Board team, will continue to drive adidas’ long-term success.”
In addition, the Supervisory Board of adidas AG has extended the term of Michelle Robertson, who is responsible for Global Human Resources, People and Culture, until December 31, 2031.
The Supervisory Board of adidas AG has also agreed to propose at the Annual General Meeting on May 7:
- The re-election of Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris as a member of the Supervisory Board for a further three-year term. Following the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting, the Supervisory Board intends to elect Nassef Sawiris as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, succeeding Thomas Rabe, whose term will expire as scheduled. Nassef Sawiris has been a member of the adidas Supervisory Board since June 2016 and has served as Deputy Chairman since 2025. He is also a major shareholder of the company.
- The re-election of Ian Gallienne for a three-year term. He is Chairman of the Board of Groupe Bruxelles Lambert.
- The nomination of Mathias Döpfner as a new candidate for election to the Supervisory Board. He has served as Chief Executive Officer of Axel Springer SE since 2002, during which time he transformed the company from a traditional publisher into a digital media group.
The North Face
The North Face, under U.S. outdoor brand group VF Corporation, has appointed Chris Goble as Global Brand President, effective at the end of March.
Chris Goble will succeed Caroline Brown, who is pursuing new opportunities. She joined the VF Board of Directors in February 2024, assumed leadership of The North Face brand in June of the same year, and subsequently stepped down from the Board.
Chris Goble joined VF Corporation from Gap Inc. in 2024, initially overseeing the Dickies brand until the company adjusted its strategy and divested the business. The portfolio of emerging brands within VF Corporation, currently under his leadership, including Altra, Eastpak, Napapijri, and Smartwool, will be taken over by VF Corporation Chief Executive Officer Bracken Darrell.
Salomon
Salomon, the French outdoor sports brand under Amer Sports Group, has appointed Laura Stauth as Senior Vice President of Sales for North America, effective March 9.
In her new role, Laura Stauth will take full responsibility for Salomon’s softgoods sales team in North America. Her core responsibilities include consolidating and expanding wholesale partnerships, increasing investment in specialty retail channels, and accelerating the brand’s performance-driven business development in footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Laura Stauth most recently worked at Vans, a brand under VF Corporation, where she served as Vice President of Sales. During her tenure, she was primarily responsible for wholesale strategy in the Americas, driving market growth and transformation.
REI Co-op
REI Co-op, the largest specialty outdoor retailer in the United States, has appointed Kim Waldmann as Chief Commercial Officer, effective March 9.
In her new role, Kim Waldmann will focus on integrating REI’s core commercial operations across stores, e-commerce, and broader operational functions, strengthening the co-operative’s ability to serve its member-owners and consumers.
Kim Waldmann previously served as Global Chief Customer Officer at sports retailer Foot Locker until the company was acquired by Dick’s Sporting Goods in September 2025. During her tenure, she led a comprehensive transformation of the company’s customer experience across all touchpoints, including brand, digital, loyalty, and physical stores.
Prior to joining Foot Locker, Kim Waldmann served as Chief Marketing and Digital Officer at Athleta, the activewear brand under Gap Inc., where she accelerated digital development, drove rapid customer growth during a phase of brand expansion, and built innovative omnichannel consumer experiences. Earlier in her career, she held several management positions at beauty retailer Sephora.
| Source: Official press releases, SGB Online
| Image Credit: Personal social media accounts
| Editor: Luxe.CO
