Puma appoints new general manager for Europe
Sportswear brand Puma has appointed Javier Ortega to the position of general manager Europe.
Due to take up his new role on 1 September, he will be responsible for the areas Central Europe, France, the UK and Ireland, Southern Europe, and the brand’s Nordic region.
Ortega has worked with Puma since 2009 and has held the position of area general manager for Southern Europe for the past nine years. As general manager of Europe, he will succeed Richard Teyssier, who started in his new role as Puma’s global brand and marketing director in July.
The move means that Ortega will report directly to Puma chief executive Arne Freundt.
Freundt said: “During his time as area general manager of Southern Europe, Javier has done a great job of elevating the Puma brand and growing our business substantially in Southern Europe.
“In his new job as general manager Europe, Javier will build on Puma’s strong momentum in the region, strengthen our position as the best partner for our retailers and align our go-to-market activities across the region.”
Meanwhile, Esteve Planas will replace Ortega as area general manager for Southern Europe. He is returning to Puma after working as chief financial officer of Spanish pharmaceutical company Galenicum since the start of 2023.
Prior to that, he held several financial roles at Puma from 2010 and 2022, including chief financial officer of Puma Spain and Puma Iberia.
