Roland Auschel Head of New "Area Central" with adidas Germany, Austria and Switzerland

Herzogenaurach, December 5th, 2000 - Effective January 1st, 2001, adidas-Salomon AG has appointed Roland Auschel (37), currently adidas Sales Director for Region Europe, as Head of the newly established "Area Central" within adidas-Salomon AG. In taking this step, adidas-Salomon is expanding its Area Concept, which combines subsidiaries into larger units. adidas Switzerland will be integrated into the new, enlarged “Area Central” with adidas Germany and adidas Austria at the beginning of next year. In his new role, Roland Auschel will at the same time also hold the position of Managing Director of adidas Germany and of adidas Austria. 

Roland Auschel brings along twelve years of adidas experience in Marketing and Sales to this newly established position. In recent years, Roland Auschel has headed up the successful reorganization of adidas Austria, and since 1999 he has steered the adidas sales and logistics activities as Sales Director Europe. In his new role, Roland Auschel will report directly to the Head of Region Europe. This function is temporarily being carried out by Herbert Hainer (46), Deputy Chairman and COO of adidas-Salomon AG. Herbert Hainer: “Area Central is of essential importance for the success of adidas-Salomon AG in Europe. We are the clear leader in all three markets. In this newly established structure, we intend to further expand our dominant position in these markets.”

At the end of this year, Norbert Geithner (53), currently Managing Director Sales for adidas Germany and adidas Austria, and Martin Grossenbacher (42), currently Managing Director of adidas Switzerland, will leave the adidas-Salomon Group. Both of them will continue to serve the company as external consultants and work on key projects for adidas-Salomon AG in Europe. 

Michael Riehl (44), currently Managing Director Marketing for adidas Germany and adidas Austria, will be assuming a new role within the Global Marketing area of the adidas-Salomon Group (to be announced shortly). 

Norbert Geithner has held various management positions with adidas in Germany and Europe since 1990. In 1996, he was appointed Managing Director Sales for adidas Germany. In 1998, he additionally assumed the position of Managing Director Sales for adidas Austria. Together with Michael Riehl, as Managing Director Marketing, he succeeded in further expanding adidas’ market leadership in Germany. 

Martin Grossenbacher has been with adidas since 1997. In this period, he has strengthened adidas’ position as market leader in Switzerland. Additionally, he paved the way for combining the adidas and Salomon businesses at a joint location in Switzerland and initiated the integration of the Swiss adidas organization into the now newly established “Area Central”.