Effective Jan. 1, 2023, Puma executive Maria Valdes will be promoted to chief product officer and a member of the board of management. Currently, Valdes is the GM of Puma’s largest business unit, sportstyle. In her new role, she will be responsible for the business units sportstyle, motorsport, team sport, running/training, basketball and accessories. She will also oversee the creative direction of the brand and the go-to-market strategy of the company.
“As general manager of our sportstyle business unit, Maria has demonstrated a strong product expertise, a great service attitude towards our retail partners and a deep knowledge of our target consumer,” said Arne Freundt, Puma’s chief executive officer. “I am convinced that her positive energy and relentless pursuit in pushing things forward make her the ideal candidate for this new role.”
Valdes looks back at a twelve-year career at the German brand. From 2010, she was in charge of product line management footwear as senior head before becoming general manager sportstyle in 2019. Before her time at Puma, she worked in product development and marketing for both L’Oréal and Inditex.
With the start of the new year, the Puma board will consist of four members: Arne Freundt (CEO), Hubert Hinterseher (chief financial officer), Anne-Laure Descours (chief sourcing officer) and Valdes.
