Adidas said Rupert Campbell will succeed Zion Armstrong as president of Adidas North America, effective January 1, 2022.
Campbell will oversee Adidas’ operations in the United States and Canada and report to Roland Auschel, Adidas AG executive board member, responsible for global sales.
Campbell, a British national, is currently managing director at Adidas Russia/CIS. He joined Adidas in 2012 as its retail director market north. He then served as SVP of retail in Europe from 2013 to 2015 and has led Russia since 2018. Adidas said the brand increased its market leadership in the Russia/CIS region and recorded double-digit sales growth under Campbell’s leadership.
“We are excited to appoint Rupert as our new president of Adidas North America. He has successfully led our Russian/CIS business, growing sales and gaining market share,” Auschel said in a statement. “With his vast experience in sports and compassionate leadership style, Rupert will further expand our market position in North America. Together with the team, he will implement our ‘Own the Game’ strategy with excellence in the largest sporting goods market in the world.”
Armstrong, who has led Adidas North America since July 2018, is leaving Adidas at the end of 2021 to return to his New Zealand home to be with his family, who have lived there since the start of the pandemic. He has been with Adidas since 1998, first as product manager of footwear in New Zealand. Other roles he has held include brand manager for Adidas North America in 2014. Adidas said sales in the market doubled between 2015 and 2020 during his tenure.
Campbell and Armstrong will work together on the transition in the coming months.
“We would like to congratulate Zion for his remarkable career at Adidas and thank him for his many contributions to our success over the last 23 years,” Auschel said in a statement. “Together with his team, he has built a strong foundation for us in North America by doubling sales and securing Adidas a strong position as the second-largest brand in the market.”
Photo courtesy Adidas
