YANKOWSKI EXITS REEBOK
NEW YORK — Carl Yankowski has resigned from Reebok International as president and chief executive officer of the Reebok brand.
Paul Fireman, chairman and ceo of Reebok International, has assumed Yankowski’s former responsibilities on a permanent basis, a spokeswoman said.
Yankowski plans to join another company as ceo “shortly,” the spokeswoman said, but declined to name the firm.
In a statement, Fireman conceded that assuming Yankowski’s former responsibilities would “require me to give up certain aspects of my role as ceo of Reebok International.” Those duties will be shared among members of his executive team, the statement said.
Fireman was not available to comment further. Neither was Yankowski, whose resignation could lead to other executive changes at Reebok. In recent years, Fireman has come under fire from shareholders for not stepping aside after failing to lead the company’s financial turnaround, as promised.
Angel Martinez, who rejoined Reebok last year as chief marketing officer after playing a key part in revolutionizing its Rockport label, is one of the senior executives helping Fireman with his new responsibilities. Chris Lee, creative director; Ken Watchmaker, chief financial officer of Reebok International, and Pat Flaherty, senior vice president of product development, will also pitch in, the spokeswoman said.
In September, Reebok laid off 10 percent of its 6,600 employees worldwide, including 120 at its corporate headquarters in Stoughton, Mass.