On Monday morning, several media outlets, including the Financial Times, reported that Adidas had launched an internal investigation into allegations of bribery in its China business following a whistleblower complaint accusing executives of embezzlement.
According to the Financial Times, the letter alleged that Adidas employees, including a senior manager, received kickbacks from external service providers. The article also states that a second Adidas executive, who worked in a different division in China, was accused of receiving “millions in cash” from suppliers as well as gifts in the form of real estate.
SGI Europe immediately received a reply from the company headquarters in Herzogenaurach when asked about the matter: “Adidas takes allegations of possible compliance violations very seriously and is committed to complying with legal and internal regulations and ethical standards in all markets we operate,” said Claudia Lange, Head of Media Relations. “On June 7, 2024, we received an anonymous letter indicating potential compliance violations in China. Adidas is currently investigating this matter intensively together with external legal counsel. Please understand that we cannot provide further information until the investigation is complete.”
