CEO Kasper Rorsted outlined three immediate actions Adidas would take in an internal memo to staffGETTY IMAGES
Adidas' top execs "laid out a series of next steps" after a "challenging last few days during which several hundred employees united to challenge Adidas management on issues of racial disparity," according to Sheena Butler-Young of FOOTWEAR NEWS. Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted in an internal memo to staffers yesterday said that the company's leadership has "agreed to take three immediate actions." Adidas "plans to increase" to $20M its investment in "programs that support black communities, including its grassroots basketball initiative, Adidas Legacy; invest in university scholarships for black employees by financing 50 scholarships each year during the next five years; and increase its number of black employees by committing to filling 30% of all new positions in the U.S. at Adidas and owned-brand Reebok with black and Latino talent." However, sources said that Adidas' response was "missing, among other things, the apology that black employees desperately wanted and also fell short of an anticipated" $30M commitment to "invest in black students." Further, some employees were "concerned that the brand's response was not informed by black executives at the brand who sought to advise management on best steps." Nearly two weeks ago, a group of about 13 employees "formed a coalition representing over 100 employees (now 200-plus employees are said to be represented)" aiming at "swift and permanent change in how Adidas supports its black team members and community at-large" (FOOTWEARNEWS.com, 6/9).
