Ross McMullin appointed as President of adidas America

Herzogenaurach, 19/05/2000 - adidas-Salomon AG has appointed Ross McMullin as President of adidas America Inc, its subsidiary in North America, effective July 17, 2000. In his position, Ross McMullin will be in charge of all adidas and Salomon operations in the North American market and will report directly to Herbert Hainer, Chief Operating Officer of adidas-Salomon AG.

In recent months, under the guidance of Herbert Hainer, who personally took charge of the North American business for the interim period until the new President was found, several steps have already been taken to make adidas America fit for the future challenges, in line with adidas-Salomon`s overall Growth and Efficiency Program. The organization has been streamlined, the top management group reduced from 12 managers to 5 with clearly defined responsibilities, and a new head of marketing appointed.

"Further expansion in the critical North American market is key to the future success of adidas-Salomon's business globally. We are determined to lead adidas into a new phase of growth and increase our market share very soon. I am convinced that with Ross McMullin we have found the right person to spearhead this effort and that he will lead our business to new levels in North America", said Herbert Hainer, commenting on the appointment.

Ross McMullin (43), a Canadian national, started his career with Peat, Marwick and Mitchell, Chartered Accountants, in Canada. He subsequently gathered around 20 years' experience in the consumer goods industry and has held several senior management positions in the Gillette Group in America and Europe. He was President of Braun Canada, President of Oral B in the US, as well as President of Braun Europe. Most recently he was President of the Gillette Group Central Europe. A former active ice-hockey player in Canada, McMullin still is an avid skier, tennis player and golfer. He is married and has two children.