Under Armour Taps Ex-Nike Exec to Run Footwear

Under Armour announced that Peter Ruppe had joined the organization’s executive leadership team as SVP of footwear. Ruppe led Nike’s basketball business for a decade.

In this position, Ruppe will be directly responsible for guiding the strategy, merchandising and development of all footwear, including men’s, women’s and youth offerings. The previous SVP of footwear, Gene McCarthy, resigned in 2013.
 
“Peter is one of the most respected and accomplished strategic leaders in the footwear space, with more than 25 years of unrivaled experience and success,” said Kip Fulks, Under Armour COO. “He has a commanding, entrepreneurial spirit and an eye for innovation that will be invaluable to Under Armour, as we continue to assert and expand our global leadership in footwear.”
 
Under Armour’s footwear revenues jumped 50.1 percent in the third quarter to $121.6 million, helped by momentum in running on the success of SpeedForm platform. Basketball also saw strong growth was also experienced in basketball, led by the ClutchFit Drive, but off a small base.

Its ambition in basketball was marked by its failed pursuit of Kevin Durant last year. In January, it launched the first signature shoe of Stephen Curry, who is often-mentioned among this year’s MVP candidates.

During his nearly 25-year tenure at Nike, Ruppe was at various times, VP and general manager of global footwear categories and merchandising, VP and GM of global equipment, and VP and GM of athletic training and field sports. Ruppe most recently served as president of Alchemy Global, the first online full-service investment platform dedicated to the sports and entertainment industry. Prior to Alchemy Global, he had been working with Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll on the development of his WinForever coaching and motivational platform.

Said Ruppe of Under Armour. “I share the brand’s passion for innovation and performance, and footwear represents the leading edge of growth opportunities related to those core values.”
 
Ruppe will be based out of the company’s headquarters in Baltimore, MD.