Gant has named Patrik Söderström chief executive officer, effective February 2020. He will take over for Brian Grevy, who, as reported, is re-joining Adidas to lead Global Brands.
Söderström joined Gant in 2016 as executive vice president global markets. Prior to that, he worked as a Northern European managing director at Italian eyewear company Luxottica and spent eight years in various roles at Reebok.
“Patrik is a key player in the global management team and I am pleased to appoint him,” Thierry Guibert, chairman of the board of directors, said in a statement. “His understanding of how to lead the commercial business and channel landscape and navigate in today’s rapidly changing retail environment, while having an understanding of the power of the brand has already proved invaluable to Gant’s growth. Looking ahead, his passionate leadership will be vital as we continue the Gant journey.”
Söderström added: “I am honoured and proud to be able to fulfil this new role. With great results on a global scale, it is an exciting time for Gant. Over the past year, we have recruited many talented employees and built a strong and powerful team. Now we will focus on the successful journey we are making, continue to improve and clarify our brand and our products, and continue to grow, both in new and in existing markets.”
On October 21, Adidas AG announced that Eric Liedtke, a 25-year Adidas veteran responsible for Global Brands, would exit the company at the close of the year and be replaced by Brian Grevy, who had held the position of CEO of Gant since June 2018 and was chief marketing officer from 2016 to 2018. Grevy formerly led Adidas’ largest business unit, training, as general manager from 2014 to 2016. Grevy started his professional career at Adidas in 1998 as key account manager, Reebok Nordics, in Denmark and subsequently held leadership positions of increasing responsibility for Adidas on a local, regional and global level.
