Dive Brief:
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Under Armour announced Thursday that Jason LaRose, the president of its North America division, will be leaving the company April 30. LaRose has been in the position since October 2016, according to an SEC filing from the company.
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The athletics retailer is on the hunt for a replacement, but in the interim, President and COO Patrik Frisk will take on the role, the company said. The announcement comes just a couple weeks before the retailer is scheduled to report earnings on May 2, where North America has been a focus point as of late.
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LaRose has been with Under Armour since 2013, and previously held positions at Express and Sears Holdings. He was also a member of the board of directors for Shop.org for two years, according to his LinkedIn.
Dive Insight:
North America, the division LaRose is in charge of, continues to be a challenging space for Under Armour, with international growth much higher than domestic.
In the retailer's most recent earnings report, North America revenue decreased 6% while the international business grew by 24%. That follows a trend of several quarters, with four of the last five showing declines in the North America business alongside double-digit increases internationally. The one exception was the second quarter of 2018, during which revenue in North America increased 2%, overshadowed by 28% growth internationally.
LaRose's departure could be an indication that the athletics retailer is looking for a fresh approach to the region, but the loss of another executive is nevertheless a tough development considering Under Armour parted with two marketing executives in December after an internal review of some of its practices.
The retailer came under fire in November for a corporate culture that only recently stopped allowing employees to charge costs for adult entertainment and gambling to company credit cards.
