Michael Armstrong has stepped down as global managing director of JD Sports after nearly 30 years with the sportswear retailer, with the company promoting Paul Orange from general manager to managing director of the EMEA region.
Armstrong departed the British sportswear retail giant to “pursue other opportunities” after holding the global MD position for less than three years. He was appointed to the newly created role in April 2023 to drive the group’s international growth ambitions and help establish JD Sports as the leading global sports-fashion powerhouse.
The executive had been with JD Sports for more than three decades, holding various senior leadership positions before his elevation to the global role. His departure comes as the retailer continues its transformation into an increasingly global operator following a series of international acquisitions in recent years.
EMEA veteran takes expanded role
JD Sports has promoted Paul Orange to managing director of the EMEA region, where he will assume some of Armstrong’s former responsibilities. The remainder will be distributed among group CEO Régis Schultz and other members of the senior leadership team, according to several reports.
Orange brings more than 20 years of experience at JD Sports and played a key role in the company’s early European expansion. In his new position, he will hold full responsibility for JD EMEA (covering the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa) and lead buying, own brand and marketing functions. He will also oversee merchandising, digital operations, support functional leads including finance, property and HR, as well as country managers across the region.
Tech investment continues with new hire
Separately, JD Sports has appointed Robert Don-Duncan as head of data architecture, signaling the company’s continued investment in technology infrastructure. Don-Duncan joins from Flutter UK & Ireland, where he served as a data architect, and previously worked for gambling specialists Sky Betting & Gaming, as well as electricals retailer AO.com. The appointment reflects JD Sports’ ongoing commitment to digital transformation and data-driven operations, areas where the company has invested heavily in recent periods.
