Adidas NZ Ltd MD Announces Resignation

Media Announcement
24 January 2004

adidas New Zealand Ltd Managing Director Announces Resignation

adidas New Zealand Ltd Managing Director Craig Lawson, announced today that after nearly 12 years at the helm he will be leaving to take on a new role as Managing Director adidas Thailand.

Based in Bangkok, Lawson takes the reins of his new post in April this year. He says that while his role for adidas New Zealand afforded him many memorable occasions dealing with a variety of sporting teams and associations, he is ready for the challenge that his new role with adidas Thailand will provide.

“During the last 12 years, I have been involved with many sports teams and sponsorships and of course had a truly momentous time directing our relationship with my beloved sport, New Zealand Rugby, since our involvement in 1998.

“But the time is right for me to fulfil an objective of taking up an offshore role in the fast paced, rapidly growing Asian market.”

Lawson’s association with adidas began 12 years ago when he was General Manager of the then distributor for adidas product, Pacific Brands/Pacific Dunlop.

He was appointed Managing Director adidas New Zealand in 1996 when adidas International bought out Pacific Dunlop.

A highlight of Lawson’s career took place in 1998 when the biggest sports marketing deal of the company’s history was made, with adidas entering into a long-term relationship as principal sponsor of the All Blacks /New Zealand Rugby Football Union. The relationship was born after a casual conversation Lawson held some years earlier with then adidas International CEO, Robert Louis-Dreyfus. Lawson’s early negotiations would prove to be the catalyst for the massive deal and see the brand enjoy significant growth in the New Zealand market and rugby markets worldwide.

Craig is married to Lynne and has two children, Jack (10) and Anna (4). A keen sportsman, Craig enjoys golf and plays Presidents grade rugby at club level and for the New Zealand Parliamentarians as sponsor representative.

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