Under Armour (UA) announced that Stephanie Linnartz will join the company as president, chief executive officer and member of the board of directors, effective Feb. 27, 2023. The company said the appointment follows a “thorough and deliberate search led by a committee of independent members of Under Armour’s Board of Directors.” Linnartz will be the permanent successor to the departed Patrik Frisk, completing a seven-month search process. She is currently president of Marriott International, Inc. the world’s largest hospitality company with a portfolio of nearly 8,200 properties in 138 countries and territories and 30 brands, including The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, Marriott Hotels, W Hotels and Westin. Prior to assuming this role at Marriot in 2021, she was group president, consumer operations, technology & emerging businesses from 2020 to 2021 and executive vice president and global chief commercial officer from 2013 to 2019. Prior to that, she held various leadership positions in sales, marketing and finance.
During her career at Marriot, Linnartz led a multi-billion dollar digital transformation of the hotel company, including the development of the highly successful 173 million-member Marriott Bonvoy® loyalty program. Linnartz also currently sits on the board of Home Depot. She has been recognized for her leadership in the industry, including being named to Forbes’ CEO Next 2021 list. She is also a member of the Fortune CEO Initiative, a forum of global business leaders committed to solving important social issues.
“As a 25-year veteran of one of the world’s most respected global companies, we are thrilled to welcome Stephanie to the brand,” said Kevin Plank, UA’s executive chair and brand chief. “She is a proven growth leader with a distinguished track record of brand strategy, omnichannel execution, talent acquisition and development, and passion for driving best-in-class consumer connectivity, experience, and brand loyalty.”
With Linnartz joining the company, Colin Browne, who has served as interim president and CEO since June 2022, will continue his leadership role and resume his position as chief operating officer. Browne has done a solid job in the interim, driving international sales growth and overcoming supply chain and excess inventory hurdles that have hurt competitors in recent quarters.
In hiring a leader from outside the industry, Plank and the UA board are clearly convinced that an outsider like Linnartz will bring a fresh perspective that can take the company to new heights.
