// Adidas sales remain unaffected by racism controversy
// Adidas HR boss Karen Parkin resigned in June after employees called for an investigation
Adidas chief executive Kasper Rorsted has said the company’s sales have not been affected by the racism row it was embroiled in, which had led to the resignation of HR boss Karen Parkin.
Parkin stepped down in June after a number of employees called for an investigation over her handling of racism at the company which she had referred to as “noise”.
Rorsted said at Adidas’ AGM that customers have not “shunned” purchases following the controversy.
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He also said that employees had told him there were not enough equal opportunities for all at the company, to which he responded that Adidas will make it a priority to become an even more “diverse and inclusive company”.
Parkin, who was also a member of the executive board, had been with the company for 23 years. She first joined in 1997 as a sales director for Adidas’ UK business.
Adidas has reopened four stores damaged during US protests over the police killing of George Floyd and plans to reopen a fifth.
Rorsted added that the company was not dealing with any legal complaints connected with the race row.
Adidas has now pledged to hire more black staff and invest in more university scholarships for black employees after facing several protests from employees against internal racism.
It has also pledged $120 million (£94 million) to black communities.
Last week, Adidas said it expected sales to recover in the third quarter as long as local lockdowns did not proceed.
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