Nike has named Markus Kleber Vice President and General Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, placing a manager with rival-brand European experience in charge of its DACH business. He works from Berlin.
Kleber announced the move on LinkedIn. He wrote that he met the Nike team for Austria, Germany and Switzerland and started in Berlin the week before his post. Regional trade outlets reported that he follows Ulrike Köhler, who led the region since 2016. No official communication has been issued so far by Nike.
“I missed Sport, so I had to come back,” Kleber wrote. He called himself a believer in Nike’s “Sport Offense,” which he tied to innovation for athletes, and described his role as part of the “Territory Offense,” a step toward winning with consumers closer to where they live and play. He listed teams, athletes and partners across brand, wholesale and retail as the people he wants to work with.
His most recent post was CEO of Danish children’s lifestyle brand Liewood, which he joined March 1. Danish trade press has reported that he is leaving after a few months. Before that, he ran Reebok Europe and Reebok Ltds. as Senior Vice President and General Manager at New Guards Group. Earlier roles include global Vice President of product for adidas Outdoor and executive positions at The North Face and Vans, where he led the DACH business.
The hire comes as Nike reorganizes its commercial leadership. Chief Commercial Officer Jane Ewing started Sept. 7 and runs the global Marketplace organization, covering sales and Nike Direct, as Nike rebuilds wholesale relationships. Nike’s geographies, however, continue to report directly to CEO Elliott Hill, so Kleber’s role sits outside her reporting line.
