“PUMA is committed to learning from external experts who provide new perspectives and fresh insights that challenge our thinking and facilitate innovation in our products. Hartmann Orthopedics & Sports is the perfect partner given their experience over 20 years of working with elite athletes to minimize risk of injuries and optimize performance through testing and customization,” Girard continued.

Ever since its foundation in 1948, PUMA’s philosophy to provide the fastest athletes with the fastest products, an attitude summarized in the brand’s motto “Forever.Faster.” For PUMA Running, this is underpinned by NITRO - the innovative Nitrogen-infused technology at the core of its running products.

“NITRO foam epitomises our “Forever.Faster.” approach. The technology is at the core of all our running shoes to make them extremely lightweight and responsive, helping you use less energy and run comfortably, so you can create history,” Girard added.

The PUMA NITRO LAB was unveiled to media today at a special event featuring PUMA athletes from the past and present, hosted by middle-distance running legend, Wilson Kipketer, a three-time 800m World Champion. Gesa Krause, Kevin López, Isayah Boers, Jess Piasecki, Patrick Schneider and Marc Reuther were also in attendance. 

At only 26 years old, “KoKo”, as she is known in the track and field community, can already look back on an impressive career. She is the reigning European Champion in the 5,000 meters and has medaled at the World Championships and the European Indoor Championships. She has set several German records ranging from 1,500 meters to 10,000 meters.

Apart from her success on the track, Klosterhalfen has also shown that she can be a serious contender in road races. She won her debut half-marathon race in Valencia last year, setting the third-fastest time ever run by a European woman.

“KoKo is an incredible talent who has proven her speed time and time again,” said Pascal Rolling, Head of Sports Marketing Running. “We are very excited that she has chosen PUMA to partner with, both on the track and on the road.”

Following the introduction of a new line of running products that uses PUMA’s NITRO technology, the company built a strong team of middle and long-distance runners, including Olympic medalist Molly Seidel, World and Olympic Champion Emmanuel Korir and Jenny Simpson, one of the most successful runners in US-history.

On the track, Klosterhalfen will compete in PUMA’s new evoSPEED Distance NITRO Elite+ 2 spike, an ultra premium race day shoe which incorporates PUMA’s latest NITRO ELITE midsole for responsive cushioning and a full-length internal carbon plate for exceptional energy return.

For road races, she can choose from PUMA’s latest road running shoes such as the Deviate NITRO Elite 2, which is made with a carbon fiber PWRPLATE that ensures stability and maximum running efficiency combined with the supreme cushioning of PUMA’s NITRO ELITE foam.

With a large following on social media, Dara is one of the most popular singers in Bulgaria and has become an important influencer for young generations in her country.

For her first photoshoot with PUMA, Dara wore the company’s iconic T7 track jacket in black and the MAYZE sneaker, one of PUMA’s most popular footwear styles for women.

A focus on local relevance is an important part of PUMA’s corporate strategy and its local ambassadors complement its international line-up. Last year, the company signed pop stars Teodora from Serbia and Eleni from Greece.

Sports company PUMA has appointed PUMA’s Global Director Retail and e-Commerce Karthik Balagopalan (42) as the new Managing Director of PUMA India, one of the company’s fastest growing markets.

Karthik has been with PUMA since 2006. Prior to leading PUMA’s global DTC business, he held management positions in the Retail operations and Business Development at PUMA India. His local knowledge, relevant experience in the direct-to-consumer business across all channels combined with exposure to global business and headquarter functions makes him the ideal candidate for managing the important Indian market. Karthik will report into PUMA CEO Arne Freundt and will be based in Bangalore, India.

Karthik replaces Abhishek Ganguly, who worked for PUMA’s Indian business for 17 years and has been the Managing Director of PUMA India since 2014. Abhishek leaves PUMA to pursue a career as an entrepreneur in his own venture.

“India is a vibrant market, where PUMA has been the No. 1 brand for many years. With the appointment of Karthik, we will write the next chapter of this very successful story,” said PUMA CEO Arne Freundt. “I would like to thank Abhishek for his energy and commitment over the past 17 years and wish him all the best for his future as an entrepreneur.”

Karthik will start in his new role on August 1, 2023. Abhishek will remain at PUMA until the end of August to ensure a smooth transition.

Sports company PUMA has made 7 out of 10 products from better materials in 2022, according to the company’s Sustainability Report 2022, as it further scaled up the use of recycled materials.

Better materials, such as cotton and viscose from certified sources or recycled polyester, have a smaller environmental footprint in terms of CO2 emissions and allow PUMA to improve its environmental impact across its product range. Since 2017, we have been able to reduce PUMA’s CO2emissions from materials by 32%. Overall CO2 emissions could be reduced by 7%*, despite a significant growth in sales.

“Our Forever Better strategy aims to make PUMA better across the entire value chain, whether it comes to materials, carbon emissions, circularity or human rights,” said Anne-Laure Descours, Chief Sourcing Officer at PUMA. “We know there is still a lot of work to be done, but we are encouraged by the progress we made last year.”

While PUMA, which is on track to reach its goal of making 9 out of 10 products with better materials by 2025, continued to power 100%* of its offices, stores and warehouses with renewable energy in 2022, its suppliers also increased the use of renewable energy in the supply chain, where most of PUMA’s carbon emissions originate.

PUMA’s core suppliers, which represent approximately 80 % of PUMA’s production volume, more than doubled their consumption of renewable energy in just one year, from 0.2% in 2017 to 11% in 2022. This was achieved through the installation of large-scale solar power systems at selected suppliers and the purchase of renewable energy certificates. By 2025, PUMA aims to more than double this figure once again and get its core suppliers to source a quarter of their energy needs from renewable sources.

More than 50% of the polyester used in PUMA’s apparel and accessories came from recycled materials and the company also started to scale up the use of recycled cotton.

At the same time, PUMA made progress with its Forever Better experiments RE:SUEDE, which tests for a biodegradable sneaker, and RE:FIBRE, which aims to scale up more advanced polyester recycling technologies. Both projects continue in 2023.

To ensure that the rights of the more than half a million workers in PUMA’s supply chain were upheld, the company collected audit reports from 510 factories producing finished products and materials in 2022.

PUMA’s sustainability report is available at https://annual-report.puma.com. As a result of the feedback PUMA received during its first “Conference of the People” in London in 2022 and to reach out to young audiences, parts of the sustainability report will also be made available as a podcast on Spotify, launching June 1, 2023.

*Including renewable energy attribute certificates

Sports company PUMA has created a podcast series to make its 2022 Sustainability Report more accessible and to reach a wider and younger audience. The RE:GEN REPORTS podcast features next-generation thinkers from six countries and distills the content of the report into 10 podcast episodes, of which the first three are available on all major podcast platforms on June 1.

The RE:GEN REPORTS podcast, as well as the recently announced Voices of a Re:Generation project, comes as a direct result of the feedback PUMA received at last year’s Conference of the People, which the company organized to discuss solutions for some of the fashion industry’s most pressing sustainability challenges with Gen-Z representatives, industry peers and experts.

“We believe in collaboration, when it comes to sustainability, whether it is NGOs, brands or consumers, especially young people, who will have to live with the decisions made today,” says Anne-Laure Descours, Chief Sourcing Officer at PUMA. “During last year’s Conference of the People, we saw that we needed to do more to reach out to younger generations when we talk about sustainability. A sustainability report as a podcast has never been done before in our industry, but we believe it is an important step to connect with GEN-Z audiences and open up these important conversations.”

Each episode of RE:GEN REPORTS will discuss one of PUMA’s 10for25 sustainability targets, covering topics from human rights to sustainable material sourcing, to explain why the company set targets in these areas and what progress it has made. An additional seven episodes will be released weekly from June 8 until July 20.

Based on PUMA’s target to train 100,000 direct and indirect staff on women’s empowerment comes the Human Rights episode. Anya Dillard, US-based award-winning activist, model, and social entrepreneur speaks to Viola Wan, PUMA’s Teamhead of Social Sustainability based in China. The episode discusses PUMA’s audit work with factories in its supply chain.

A target to make 100% of all PUMA products safe to use is the basis of the Chemicals episode. This episode features Germany-based sustainable and healthy living vlogger Luke Jaque-Rodney in conversation with Klaas Nuttbohm from ZDHC, an organisation leading the fashion industry to eliminate harmful chemicals. Luke is one of PUMA’s Voices of a Re:Generation, working with PUMA to translate sustainability in a way that makes sense to and engages with the next generation.

The third episode, Circularity, is based on the target to reduce production waste to landfills by at least 50%. US-based up-cycler, and another of PUMA’s Voices of a Re:Generation, Andrew Burgess is joined by PUMA’s Senior Manager Corporate Strategy, Simon Hessel. The two discuss the chemical recycling process and how it’s used in RE:FIBRE, PUMA’s textile to textile recycling project.

Collaboration across the industry is key to unlocking sustainable progress. Throughout the podcast series, PUMA will feature representatives from industry bodies, businesses and NGOs that push brands to ensure more sustainable practises are in place and monitored. Guests on RE:GEN REPORTS include Fair Labour Association’s Chief of Staff, Shelly Han, UNFCCC’s Sector’s Engagement in Climate Action Lead, Lindita Xhaferi-Salihu, Canopy’s Founder and Executive Director, Nicole Rycroft and Leather Working Group’s Traceability Manager, Vanessa Brain.

PUMA has secured the help of several next-generation entrepreneurs and sustainability experts to host each episode such as Amina Shakeel, Fair Labour Association (FLA) student committee member, Bertha Shum, Hong Kong based founder and CEO of Earthero, Ripudaman Bevli, India based environmentalist and social activist, Melissa Tan, Malaysia based climate action and sustainability advocate, Yumika Hoskin, US-based Pecobag founder, Diandra Marizet US-based intersectional environmentalist, and Monica Buchan-Ng, the Acting Head of Knowledge Exchange at the Centre for Sustainable Fashion in the UK.

PUMA’s sustainability efforts have been recognized several times. In 2022, the brand topped the Business of Fashion sustainability ranking, the platform on living wage financials ranking, and the FTSE4Good ranking within its sectors. It was included in the Corporate Knights global top 100 most sustainable companies ranking, maintained its triple-A ranking with MSCI and its prime status with ISS; two leading sustainability rating agencies. Reuters also ranked it as number two within its sector and, in S&P sustainability benchmarking, PUMA outperformed all other sports brands for the first time since 2010.

PUMA’s full 2022 Sustainability Report can be accessed here.

For more information about the RE:GEN Reports podcast and to listen to first three episodes, click here.

• Reorganization to improve alignment across key business categories and accelerate decision-making

• Relocation of Brand Management and Marketing Operations from Boston to Herzogenaurach-HQ

• Strengthening of local US marketing team by increased responsibilities

• Richard Teyssier appointed as new Global Brand & Marketing Director

• PUMA CEO Arne Freundt: “With the reorganization of our Global Marketing function we will lay the organizational foundation to relentlessly drive brand elevation as one of our key strategic priorities.“

As part of the implementation of its strategic priorities, German sports company PUMA is reorganizing the global Marketing Organization. The decision lays the organizational foundation for further elevating the PUMA brand, one of the company’s three strategic priorities. Going-forward PUMA’s Global Marketing Organization will be based at the company’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach, Germany to improve alignment and accelerate decision-making with the company’s Global Business Units, Global Go-To-Market function, and Creative Direction. This involves the relocation of the Brand Management and Marketing Operations departments from Boston to Herzogenaurach, effective July 1. At the same time, the marketing organization of PUMA North America will be further strengthened by the assignment of responsibilities for local sports marketing and local partnership management in order to elevate the brand in the US market. 

“PUMA’s brand is at the heart of our company’s success,” said Arne Freundt, CEO of PUMA. “Yet, our analyses clearly show that PUMA has significant opportunities to leverage the full potential of its brand. This is why relentlessly elevating our brand is one of our key strategic priorities. With the Global Marketing Organization being based in proximity to our key central functions at the HQ, we will lay the organizational foundation for this. It will ensure brand consistency and speed up decision-making to further strengthen the PUMA brand and it will make us even more consumer-centric. With the new setup, we will be able to drive more impactful campaigns to further establish our brand in the minds of our consumers.”

In the context of the reorganization, PUMA’s Global Chief Brand Officer Adam Petrick has decided to not transition to Herzogenaurach, but to pursue new challenges outside of PUMA, after over two decades with the brand. He will be with the company until the end of the year to ensure a smooth transition.

PUMA’s Regional General Manager Europe Richard Teyssier will lead the Global Marketing Organization as Global Brand & Marketing Director, effective 1 July 2023. In this role, he will report directly to PUMA CEO Arne Freundt. Richard has broad expertise in brand management and marketing after 17 years in leading Marketing functions at Mars Inc., where he was responsible for some of the company’s most iconic brands, such as M&Ms and TWIX in France prior to joining PUMA in 2010. At PUMA, Richard had been General Manager for the French market until 2021 before assuming responsibility for Central Europe, France, UK & Ireland, Southern Europe, Northern Europe across all channels. He will continue to lead the Region Europe until his successor is announced.

“I would like to thank Adam Petrick for his significant contribution to PUMA’s success during his more than 20-year-tenure with PUMA,” said Arne Freundt. “With Richard Teyssier, we have found the ideal candidate to drive PUMA’s brand elevation strategy in the future. He is not only a true marketing specialist who comes with a strong expertise in brand management. He is also an integral part of our PUMA family and knows the business inside out from his more than 12 years of general management at PUMA France and PUMA Europe.” 

David Lu will further strengthen PUMA China’s top management by replacing Shirley as Commercial Director. He has been with PUMA since March 2023 and has worked in the fashion and sports industry for more than 15 years. Most recently, he worked as the General Manager of Retail Operations at Levi’s.

All of these changes will become effective July 1, 2023.

The Top Employer certification highlights PUMA’s engagement to provide an attractive workplace for its employees.

“Putting our employees, their needs, and goals first has always been our top priority,” says Dietmar Knoess, Global Director of People and Organization at PUMA. “The pandemic is challenging for all of us. However, we will always strive to become better, so we can continue providing a workplace environment that our employees can thrive in.”

The Top Employers Institute certifies companies based on their information in the Human Resources Best Practices survey, which includes six overarching dimensions and 20 areas. This includes talent strategy, personnel planning, onboarding, training & development, performance management, executive development, compensation & benefits and corporate culture among others.

The Institute highlighted PUMA’s policies committing to social and environmental performance, the alignment of HR practices with sustainability principles and the incentivization of PUMA’s employees to support environmental goals. The design of PUMA’s workspaces and the ability of employees to manage their work hours and location were also mentioned as important criteria which made the company a Top Employer.