Adidas appoints new head of global operations, extends management shake-up

Adidas has appointed its Western Europe head Gil Steyaert as new global operations chief, responsible for the German sportswear firm's sourcing, and has also elevated human resources head Karen Parkin to the executive board.

Adidas said in a statement on Wednesday that the supervisory board had elevated Karen Parkin, human resources head since 2014, to the executive board, the first woman in the top team since 1993 when Gilberte Beaux led Adidas as interim CEO.

The moves are the latest changes since Kaspar Rorsted took over as chief executive in October from long-serving predecessor Herbert Hainer. Rorsted has made improving diversity one of his top priorities. In March, he appointed Harm Ohlmeyer as new finance chief, replacing Robin Stalker, who served alongside Hainer for 16 years.

“With Gil, we are pleased to appoint once again an excellent internal candidate to the Executive Board," said Igor Landau, Chairman of the Supervisory Board. "Over the last couple of years, Gil Steyaert was instrumental in growing and harmonizing our business across Western Europe. With this he brings extensive knowledge about our business, our operations and our products to his new role on our Executive Board. He will continue to make sure that our agile and fast Global Operations remain a competitive advantage as outlined in our ‘Creating the New’ strategy."

Steyaert, a 54-year-old French national, replaces Glenn Bennett, who had been on the executive board for 20 years, Adidas said in a statement on Wednesday.

Adidas said the move, which takes effect by Oct. 1, had come because Bennett had informed the supervisory board he would not extend his contract when it expires in March 2018.