How tech figures into Under Armour’s leadership shuffle

Under Armour shook up its management ranks on Tuesday morning that includes founder Kevin Plank stepping down from the role of President of the Tide Point-based company. Plank will retain his roles of CEO and Chairman.
Assuming the role of President and Chief Operating Officer is Patrik Frisk. He last led Aldo Group as CEO, and previously oversaw brands like The North Face, Timberland and JanSport as President of Outdoor Americas.
Frisk will report directly to Plank. His position is one of several C-level roles now being filled at the company. Among those who will report to Frisk are Chief Product Officer Kevin Eskridge and Chief Supply Chain Officer Colin Browne, who assumed those newly created roles recently.
Under Armour said the changes were designed to improve its digital business and internal efficiency.
Under Armour also named Paul Fipps as Chief Technology Officer of the company, which is designed to bring together oversight of the company’s web and mobile apps, as well as IT and real estate.
“This realignment integrates the company’s digital ecosystem including its single view of the consumer data and additional SAP capabilities to fuel product creation and personalization, increase speed to market and accelerate consumer value,” the release states. Fipps, who has been with the company since 2014, is one of several execs who will continue to report directly to Plank.
Before the announcement, Plank was interviewed on NBC’s Sunday Today show. He gave host Willie Geist a tour of the Lighthouse in Port Covington, where the company is looking to reinvent manufacturing.