Under Armour, Inc. announced that Patrik Frisk will step down as president and CEO and as a member of its Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2022. The board has initiated an internal and external search for Frisk’s replacement.
Colin Browne, Under Armour’s COO, shown right, has taken the helm as interim president and CEO effective June 1, 2022. To support the transition, Frisk will remain with the company as an advisor through September 1, 2022.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank Patrik for his valuable contributions to Under Armour over the past five years,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour founder, executive chairman and brand chief. “During his tenure, we made significant strides in advancing enterprise-wide operational excellence, and Patrik’s steadfast leadership has been crucial to strengthening our foundation and positioning the company for our next growth phase. As we search for Patrik’s permanent successor, Colin’s experience as a seasoned executive in our industry and leading critical operational aspects of our business will serve Under Armour well as interim CEO.
“Under Armour is evolving to meet the needs of our athletes worldwide. As we transition, we are committed to identifying additional opportunities to drive improved returns for our shareholders and deliver for athletes, partners and teammates. There is a huge opportunity in front of us, and I look forward to working closely with the board during the search process to find our next leader who will take us to new heights. In the meantime, we are moving forward and will continue to connect with athletes in exciting ways, offering them exactly what they need when they need it.”
Under Armour said Frisk, who joined Under Armour in 2017, helped architect its long-term strategic plan that underscored its commitment to athletic performance by reengineering its structure, systems and go-to-market process. Under his leadership, the company introduced new products, solidified relationships with consumers and advanced its purpose, vision, mission, and values.
Frisk replaced Plank as CEO in January 2020. He joined Under Armour as president and COO. Before joining Under Armour, Frisk spent ten years at VF Corp. as Coalition President of Outdoor Americas, President of Timberland, President of Outdoor and Action Sports in the EMEA region, and VP/GM of the North Face. He most recently served as CEO of Aldo Group.
“It has been the greatest privilege of my career to serve Under Armour athletes, customers, shareholders, and teammates. I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team,” said Frisk. “Together, we have done a tremendous amount of work to strengthen this iconic brand while significantly solidifying its operations. Colin has an intimate understanding of the Under Armour business and our industry, and I am confident that his stewardship will allow for a seamless transition.”
Browne said, “What unifies and drives Under Armour is our purpose—to empower those who strive for more. This transition is an opportunity to further our long-term goals. I am grateful for Patrik’s leadership and partnership. As we work to deliver industry-leading innovation and premium experiences to athletes globally, we remain focused on amplifying the strong foundation that’s been set over the past few years.”
Since joining Under Armour in 2016, Browne modernized its digital strategy and DTC model and transformed its supply chain leading to margin improvement and operating efficiency. Browne has been UA’s COO since 2020 and oversees supply chain, global planning, sustainability, information technology, enterprise data management, commercial optimization, go-to-market strategy, and distribution capabilities. Browne has been critical in navigating global supply challenges caused by the pandemic.
Photos courtesy Patrik Frisk, Colin Browne
