Running with the changes at Reebok

Thursday, March 13, 2008 | 12:05 p.m. | By Terry Lefton | Comments | Print

With Paul Harrington out and Uli Becker moved from CMO to president/CEO at Reebok, we're expecting to see some changes. Exactly what the new course will be is something that's still being figured out inside Reebok's Canton, Mass., headquarters.

"We've got a leader who's more marketing focused, and remember, Uli has been an integral part of charting our course already, so I'd expect more consistency than change,'' said John Lynch, Reebok head of global brand communications, shortly after appearing on Wednesday's marketing panel.

"Our biggest market opportunities right now are in running and women’s, which is a great place for us to be, since that is Reebok's heritage."

Overseas is another area of focus. Reebok will open a store a day in China this year. "Growth over there is astounding,'' Lynch said.

"In the North American market, we'll be looking to fix that, and expecting growth there, too, but nothing dramatic until 2009.''

As for whether Lynch will succeed Becker as head of global marketing for Reebok? ''Stay tuned on that one,'' he said.