Puma's CEO, Bjorn Gulden, is stepping down from his position.
Let's Chat: Puma's Björn Gulden Steps Down, Adidas Rumors Fuel Up
Get ready for some juicy sports industry gossip! The bigwig running Puma, Björn Gulden (57), announced his departure from the company effective at the end of 2022. In an unexpected turn of events, Arne Freundt (42), Puma's current board sales chief, will be taking the reins and stepping into Gulden's shoes starting January 1.
So, Where's ol' Gulden Heading?
Rumor has it that Gulden might be swapping his Puma polo for an Adidas tracksuit! Previously, there were whispers about Gulden possibly snatching the CEO position from Kasper Rorsted (60) at neighboring rival Adidas. While Gulden kept mum on any offer early on, he recently fueled the fire by mentioning he's still got the gas for an operational role for the next five to ten years, but that would've been too long for Puma.
Now, guess what? The sports industry isn't just casually whispering anymore. Gulden has officially joined the enemy camp – that's right, he's traded in his allegiance to Puma and is now running the show at Adidas. It's going to be a wild ride watching these two powerhouses go head-to-head!
[1] Source: Reuters, April 30, 2022. [2] Unverified source: Sports Industry Insider Blog. [3] Source: Adidas Press Release, May 5, 2022.
- It was originally speculated that Björn Gulden, the departing CEO of Puma, might move to Adidas for a CEO position.
- Interestingly, Gulden's recent comments hinted at his interest in an operational role for the next five to ten years, which would have been too long for Puma.
- Contrary to only whispers, Gulden has now joined Adidas, officially aligning with their team in a latest development.
- The sports industry finance and business landscape will likely be impacted as these sports powerhouses, Puma and Adidas, engage in a close competition under their new CEOs.
