François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of PPR and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of PUMA:
“We are happy to announce Jochen Zeitz’s appointment to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. This step allows the use of the qualitative synergies between the PPR brands and PUMA and therefore further supports the successful collaboration between PUMA and PPR.”

Jochen Zeitz, CEO and Chairman: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of PPR. This step will reinforce PUMA’s position within the PPR Group and the support of PPR’s Executive Committee gives us the possibility to further strengthen our position as one of the most desirable Sportlifestyle companies.”

Franz Koch is currently in charge of Global Strategy for PUMA and based in Herzogenaurach. He has been responsible for the long-term strategic group development and management of special projects such as portfolio optimization, process re-engineering as well as mergers and acquisitions. Moreover, he coordinated and helped execute the company’s restructuring program in 2009 to lay the foundation for sustainable growth following the economic crisis. Koch has also strongly contributed to PUMA’s long-term sustainability program and most recently, he was instrumental in developing – in close cooperation with Jochen Zeitz and the other members of the Board of Management – the five-year growth strategy “Back on the Attack 2011-15” with its clear mission for PUMA to become the most desirable and sustainable Sportlifestyle company.

Jochen Zeitz, Chairman and CEO of PUMA: “Having an exceptionally analytical yet most pragmatic mind, Franz Koch has been one of the key drivers of PUMA’s strategic course and strongly contributed to our 2010 record sales level. Together, we have defined the company’s five-year strategic plan which will be the catalyst to tap into PUMA’s envisaged sales potential of 4 billion Euros in 2015. I am convinced that Franz is the right person at the right time and that he is the most qualified candidate and dedicated individual to take the helm at PUMA. I will personally accompany Franz’ transition period and I look forward to continuing a close and trusting cooperation with him.”

Koch joined PUMA in 2007 as Global Strategic Planner after having worked for the international management consultancy Oliver Wyman for several years. Koch (32) graduated in Business Administration from Leipzig Graduate School of Management and holds a Masters Degree in Commerce from the University of Sydney. The appointment of Franz Koch is the result of a thorough and diligent search process, in which many external and internal candidates were reviewed.

“Franz Koch, who has been working closely with Jochen Zeitz and the Board of Management over the past years, is our candidate of choice for this position. His excellent knowledge of the company and strategic expertise will guarantee a seamless handover and continuation of the company’s growth strategy. PUMA is one of PPR’s core brands and I am confident that Franz will bring PUMA to the next level. He has our full support and confidence,” said François-Henri Pinault, Chairman of PUMA’s Supervisory Board.

As announced last year, PUMA is about to convert into a European Corporation, trading under the name of PUMA SE. The transformation is subject to approval at the company’s annual shareholder meeting on April 14, 2011. Following the conversion into an SE, PUMA’s current CEO Jochen Zeitz will become Executive Chairman of the one-tier PUMA SE Board. Additionally, Zeitz has been appointed Head of the Sport & Lifestyle Group of PPR as well as Chief Sustainability Officer.

Over the last three months PUMA’s new management team has created a unified brand platform and simplified mission: Forever Faster. The statement, a new tag line that will launch to consumers in 2014, reflects a 65-year history of making fast product designs for the fastest athletes on the planet.

JWT will work with PUMA to develop and define a fast-moving creative process poised to capitalize on culturally relevant sporting moments. The agency will immediately begin working on a project to re-ignite the brand heat, working with PUMA to define its new Forever Faster brand messaging before rolling out a new global brand campaign in the second half of 2014.

“In JWT, we have found an agile agency with a global reach that understands the PUMA brand and culture,” said Björn Gulden, CEO of PUMA. “The team quickly proved that they could deliver on our new mission to become the Fastest Sports Brand in the World. Together we’ll craft a more nimble creative structure that will allow us to support all of the company’s sporting and lifestyle categories with a single consumer message and streamlined creative concept across territories.”

The PUMA account will be led out of JWT’s flagship headquarters in New York, with offices across the agency’s network contributing regional insight and localization of the global brand campaign.

“PUMA is more than an advertising relationship for us; it’s a true brand and business partnership,” said Peter Sherman, CEO, JWT New York. “It will be a privilege to work with this team.”

PUMA is the latest in a string of new business wins for JWT New York in the last three months, which includes a consolidation of Energizer brands and a creative assignment from Google.