Under Armour strengthens regional structure
Under Armour has strengthened its regional structure with a raft of new senior appointments.
Jason Archer has been appointed as managing director for the Asia Pacific region while Manuel Ovalle has become managing director for Latin America. Meanwhile, Massimo Baratto has taken up the role of managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The company has also announced that its Hong Kong office will be expanded to serve as its Asia Pacific headquarters.
Under Armour president and chief operating officer Patrik Frisk said: “Today’s actions support our commitment to becoming a more operationally excellent company capable of supporting the global potential of the Under Armour brand. As we work to scale our international business, we remain focused and measured in our evolution across our entire portfolio to ensure that we are driving toward long-term return for our shareholders.”
Having already worked for six years with Under Armour, Archer will now oversee the company’s operations in Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea. Prior to joining the company, he spent 11 years with Adidas in Latin America and six years with PwC on assignments in Canada and Europe.
Ovalle joined Under Armour in 2013 and before that spent nearly 20 years with Adidas as managing director for Latin America. He will be based in Panama and be responsible for the company’s entire Latin America business.
Baratto started working with Under Armour in May. Prior to that, he was chief executive of the Oberalp Group. In his new position, he will oversee the Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
Meanwhile, Jason LaRose will continue in his role of president for North America where he leads the company’s business in the US and Canada. Prior to Under Armour, he held senior leadership positions with Express, Sears Holding Corporation and McKinsey & Company.
All four regional leads report directly to Frisk.
The company has also announced that Erick Haskell, Under Armour’s managing director for Greater China, is planning to leave the company later this month to pursue a new opportunity.
Frisk added: “We are grateful for Erick’s leadership and the strong foundation he set over the past few years, which has positioned us for strong, balanced growth as we enter our next chapter in this important region.”
