Management Changes in adidas’ Region Europe, Latin America and in Global Marketing
Herzogenaurach/Panama/Stockholm, November 7th, 2003 - Karl-Heinz Maurath, currently Head of Area Nordic within adidas’ Region Europe, will take over the position of Head of adidas’ Region Latin America effective December 15th. Patrik Nilsson, currently Head of adidas’ Global Sport Heritage Division, will succeed Karl-Heinz Maurath as Head of Area Nordic effective December 1st. Patrick Nilsson’s role in the Sport Heritage Division will be assumed by Hermann Deininger, currently adidas’ Head of Global Strategic Business Development. Lionel Ortega (49), currently Head of Region Latin America, will leave adidas in order to pursue new personal challenges, after 12 years in which he successfully built up the region.
“We are very much looking forward to support Karl-Heinz, Patrik and Hermann in their new roles,” said Herbert Hainer, Chairman and CEO of adidas-Salomon AG. “All three of them have an excellent track record and long experience with our group. I am absolutely convinced that they will help us to secure even stronger market positions for adidas in their respective new areas of responsibility. At the same time I would like to thank Lionel for his passion and his many contributions to our company and wish him all the best for the future.”
Karl-Heinz Maurath (42), German, draws on 14 years of international experience working for the adidas brand. After four years in the export division he spent five years as Managing Director in Thailand, where he successfully converted the local license business into a fully-owned adidas subsidiary. In 1999, he was appointed Managing Director of adidas Sweden. During his tenure in Stockholm, he managed the adidas business in Sweden and built up the Area Nordic organisation as part of adidas’ Winning in Europe project. Area Nordic consists of Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and the Baltic countries. In his new role, Karl-Heinz Maurath, will report to Herbert Hainer, Chairman and CEO of adidas-Salomon AG.
Patrik Nilsson (39), a Swedish national, has a long and successful track record with adidas as well. He started his adidas career in 1991 as Head of Sales and Marketing in Sweden. In 1994, he joined the Global Marketing organisation, and during his tenure as Business Unit Manager Tennis adidas regained market leadership in this category in both Europe and North America. In 2000, Patrik Nilsson was appointed Head of adidas’ Global Sport Heritage Division. Since then, sales in this division have doubled to exceed 900 million Euro in 2002. In his new role, Patrik Nilsson will report to Roland Auschel, adidas’ Head of Region Europe.
Hermann Deininger (44), German, currently Head of Global Strategic Business Development, will, in addition, assume responsibility for the Global Sport Heritage Division. Hermann Deininger, has served the company since 1985 in various senior management positions on a national, regional and international level. Among others he was Global Business Unit Manager for Hardware, Head of Communication for adidas Germany and Marketing Director of adidas’ Region Europe. In his role as Head of Global Strategic Business Development he led the development and successful implementation of adidas’ own retail activities for both the Sport Performance and the Sport Heritage Division. At the same time, he headed up the Sport Style Division and was responsible for the successful launch of the Y-3 collection in co-operation with Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. Hermann Deininger will continue to report to Erich Stamminger, Member of the Executive Board of adidas-Salomon responsible for Global Marketing.