Adidas Olympic Games director takes new job
German sportswear brand adidas is losing its global Olympic Games director, Erica Kerner, less than a year before the London 2012 event opens.
Ms Kerner, who is also “head of London 2012” for adidas, is leaving to become Polo Ralph Lauren’s first vice president of marketing for the Asia Pacific region.
Ms Kerner will end her seven year tenure at adidas next month. In her time at the firm, she oversaw the company’s sponsorship of the Beijing 2008 Olympics. She was appointed to officially lead adidas’ sponsorship of London 2012 in 2009.
Before joining adidas in 2004, Ms Kerner spent ten years with Nike and, as director of international marketing for retail, led the team that opened the Niketown store on Oxford Street, London.
There are no plans to replace Ms Kerner, but Lee Gibbons, head of event operations for London 2012, will take over adidas’ day to day relationship with LOCOG. The overall London 2012 project will continue to report into Nick Craggs, marketing director for adidas Area North.
