Adidas CEO Herbert Hainer "plans to stay until the end of his contract in March 2017 even though the board is looking for a successor, saying he expects bumper sales in his last full year in office," according to Emma Thomasson of REUTERS. Hainer said that "much had changed and he was upbeat" for '16, noting that the share price had risen 60% in the last year, to "make it one of the strongest performers in the German DAX index." He said, "I have never seen the order book as full in my 15 years here." Hainer said that he "did not feel under pressure from high-profile new investors the world's second biggest sportswear brand has attracted in the last year," adding that he "met with them regularly." Hainer said, "Investors are all satisfied. What all really like is the adidas brand. It is such a strong brand and it has such a sheen." Hainer "is not in any hurry to step down, saying the board is taking its time to consider external candidates as well as internal ones." Hainer: "Of course I will stay until the end of my contract. At some point an announcement will come and then we will see how quickly the person can come" (REUTERS, 12/9).
