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Across the footwear industry, we’ve seen a change in leadership for some of the top brands in recent years as Puma’s current CEO Bjørn Gulden is jumping ship to rival adidas and Under Armour has been with an interim CEO since May of this year. After 7 months of searching, Under Armour has just announced that Stephanie Linnartz will be replacing Colin Browne and will assume both the President and CEO roles at the company.
Over her 25-plus year career in the business world, Stephanie has held roles with some of the most successful companies in their respective industries as she currently serves on The Home Depot’s Board of Directors and has been President of Marriott International, Inc. since 2021. Even though these two roles may not appear to translate into the sportswear industry, her leadership at Marriott helped transform the company's approach on the digital front and developed relationships with various sports leagues and teams across the globe.
Kevin Plank, Executive Chair and Brand Chief of Under Armour stated “the board is confident that Stephanie – along with our leadership team and all of our key stakeholders – will accelerate our ability to realize the substantial opportunities for Under Armour as both an operating company and aspirational brand.”
Commenting on her role at the brand, Linnartz said “Under Armour is an iconic brand with a huge opportunity ahead. This company has immense energy and excitement, and I am committed to building growth while maintaining operational excellence. I look forward to joining the incredible UA team, partnering with Kevin and the board, and leading this amazing company into its next chapter, delivering for athletes, teammates, customers, and shareholders.”
With the company looking to grow its e-commerce business and compete with the likes of Nike, Linnartz is perfect for the company even if it isn’t looking for a radical change overnight. We’ll have to keep our eyes posted on what strategies, signings, and routes Under Armour will take once Stephanie takes over as CEO and President on February 27th, 2023. Keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest release, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
