23 May Adidas Reorganizing Basketball Leadership
Lawrence Norman, former vice president of Adidas Global Basketball, has been named Adidas South Europe managing director. Zion Armstrong, formerly managing director of Adidas Group South Korea, as Adidas Brand director in North America.
Chris Grancio, head of global basketball sports marketing, is managing the business in the interim, according to reports. Norman’s responsibility also included management of the 11 year partnership between adidas and the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The moves were made under the leadership of Roland Auschel, executive board member global sales, and Eric Liedtke, executive board member global brands, and are part of move to “have more rotation between Headquarter and Markets and between Sales and Brands,” according to an e-mail from Adidas.
In total, the changes include:
Jean-Michel Granier (French), currently Managing Director Adidas Group Southern Europe, will take over the role of Managing Director Adidas Group South Korea, effective July 1, 2014. In his new role, Jean-Michel Granier will relocate to Seoul and report directly into Roland Auschel, Executive Board Member of the Adidas Group, responsible for Global Sales.
Jean-Michel Granier succeeds Zion Armstrong (New Zealander) who has accepted a new role within the Adidas Group as Adidas Brand Director in the company’s biggest market, North America, effective August 1, 2014. In his new role, Zion Armstrong will report directly into Mark King, President Adidas Group North America.
In Southern Europe, Andreas Gellner (German), currently Managing Director Adidas Group South East Europe, will take over the role of Managing Director Adidas Group Southern Europe, effective July 1, 2014. In his new role, Andreas Gellner will relocate to Italy and report directly into Gil Steyaert, Managing Director Adidas Group Western Europe.
Succeeding Andreas Gellner in South East Europe will be Lawrence Norman (American), currently VP Adidas Global Basketball, who will take over the role of General Manager Adidas Group South East Europe, effective July 1, 2014. In his new role, Lawrence Norman will report into Andreas Gellner.
In the Nordics, Sven Moser (Swiss), currently Senior Vice President Global Wholesale, will take over the role of General Manager Adidas Group Nordics, effective August 1, 2014. In his new role, Sven Moser will relocate to Stockholm and report directly into Gavin Thomson, Managing Director Adidas Group North Europe. Sven Moser is succeeding Brian Grevy who accepted a new role within the Adidas Group as General Manager Global Training based out of Herzogenaurach, Germany.