Jochen Zeitz, the former long-time CEO of Puma, will step down as head of PPR's Sport & Lifestyle division and chief sustainability officer of PPR, as well as a member of the executive committee, in October in order to take a bigger role in overseeing PPR's sustainability initiatives. As of October, the Sport & Lifestyle division, which includes Puma, Volcom, Cobra Golf and Tretorn, will report directly to Jean-François Palus, group managing director, with Todd Hymel in the position of chief operating officer
At the same time, PPR said Zeitz will join PPR's board of directors and will become chair of a new Sustainability
Committee at PPR to further establish sustainability as a key driver in the luxury group, which owns brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent in addition to its sports brands. In
this role he will continue to guide PPR's sustainability agenda and
provide strategic leadership to PPR HOME.
Zeitz‘s role at Puma as chairman of the administrative board remains unchanged.
François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of PPR, stated:
“In joining the Board of Directors Jochen will bring us his valuable expertise and experience in his fields of excellence which are key drivers for PPR: extensive knowledge of the sport & lifestyle sector and also in sustainability. His commitment and dedication in leading and setting up our Sport & Lifestyle division and PPR HOME to where they are now have been integral to the new PPR.”
Zeitz, head of the Sport & Lifestyle division and chief sustainability officer of PPR, said: “In deciding to dedicate more of my time towards my initiatives around conservation and sustainability, I am also looking forward to providing continued support for PPR’s strategy in the Sport & Lifestyle division, and help guide the Group’s sustainable development as a member of the Board.”
Jochen Zeitz has been a long-time advocate of the necessity for a more sustainable approach to business, having initially introduced PUMAVision in 2008, according to the statement. PUMAVision is an umbrella concept to implement an ethical framework and develop initiatives to drive PUMA to cleaner, greener, safer and more sustainable systems and practices contributing to peace as well as promoting creativity and art. In April 2010, Zeitz launched Puma's long-term sustainability program, and in May 2011 he was the first to develop and announce an Environmental Profit & Loss Account that puts a monetary value to a businesses use of ecosystem services across the entire supply chain and which will be rolled out across PPR's Luxury, Sport and lifestyle brands by 2015.
In October 2010, Zeitz was appointed chief sustainability officer at PPR and soon after launched PPR HOME, a new and multi-tiered sustainability initiative across the Group. In 2008 Zeitz founded the not for profit – Zeitz Foundation for intercultural Ecosphere Safety – to support creative and innovative sustainable projects and solutions. In 2010, the German Sustainability Foundation gave him an award for ‘Most Sustainable Strategy’ for PUMA. Zeitz is currently a member of the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) Advisory Board as well as a Member of the Board of Harley Davidson, where he chairs its sustainability committee.
