Reebok North America chief leaves as job is cut
The president of North America for Reebok International Ltd. left the company Monday after his job was eliminated in an executive reorganization.
The German parent company of adidas and Reebok, adidas Group, said that Uli Becker departed to pursue other opportunities.
It said no other executives left the company as a result of the reorganization.
Adidas said it has consolidated the top North American leadership positions of the two brands in the new executive structure.
Patrik Nilsson, president of adidas North America, will be president of adidas Group North America. Nilsson will report to Herbert Hainer, chief executive of adidas Group.
The adidas brand’s US home will continue to be Portland, Ore., while the Reebok brand will remain headquartered in Canton.
“With this new organizational structure, we ensure that both the adidas and Reebok brands remain separate and distinctive while leveraging the Group’s strengths,” Hainer said in a statement. “This new set up will make our Group stronger and grow our business faster in the US.”
Becker, a 23-year veteran of the company, was promoted from chief marketing officer of Reebok to president and chief executive in 2008. But the chief executive position was cut last year, and Becker was named president of Reebok’s North American operations at the time.
The company said it plans to add a new position, Reebok US brand director, next year.
Chris Waldeck, the Canton company’s current brand director in South Korea, will take on this role.
A spokeswoman said the consolidation will not affect TaylorMade-adidas Golf and the Rockport Co., two other brands under the adidas Group.