Mark King Out As Adidas North America President

Adidas North America President MARK KING is leaving his position effective July 1 and is "passing the torch" to Adidas North America GM ZION ARMSTRONG, according to Sheena Butler-Young of FOOTWEAR NEWS. Adidas Head of Global Sales ROLAND AUSCHEL in a statement said this will be a "well-prepared, seamless transition" and that Armstrong's leadership will continue a "successful journey in North America." King has been at Adidas for 35 years and had served in his current role since '14. King from '03-14 "was CEO of TaylorMade -- Adidas Golf." Adidas under his leadership has "experienced a major resurgence, posing a sales gain" of 35% in '17 (FOOTWEARNEWS.com, 4/24). The Wall Street Journal's Sara Germano reports King's departure "has nothing to do" with the ongoing investigation into college basketball or "behavior or management." The NCAA's basketball commission is set to release its reform recommendations tomorrow (TWITTER.com, 4/24).