JD Sports global managing director Michael Armstrong has departed from the sportswear retailer.
Armstrong has left the business after less than three years in his position and more than a 30-year tenure at the company, Drapers reported.
The exec stepped down to “pursue other opportunities” after holding various senior leadership positions at JD Sports.
He was appointed to the newly created role of global managing director in April 2023 to help “further drive the group’s growth” and “meet its ambition to become the leading global sports-fashion powerhouse”.
It comes as JD Sports promotes general manager for the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) Paul Orange as its new managing director of the region.
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Orange is set to split Armstrong’s former responsibilities with CEO Régis Schultz as well as other members of its senior leadership team, Drapers understands.
Speaking to the publication, a JD Sports spokesperson said: “We can confirm that Michael Armstrong has stepped down from his role as managing director of the JD brand to pursue other opportunities.
“We sincerely thank Michael for his commitment, leadership, and contribution to JD over 30 years.
“We are [also] pleased to confirm that Paul Orange has been promoted to managing director of JD EMEA (UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa).
“Previously general manager for this region, he brings more than 20 years’ experience with JD and has been integral to our growth journey, including playing a key leadership role in our early European expansion.”
They added: “In his new role, Paul will assume full responsibility for JD EMEA, and he will also lead buying, own brand and marketing, alongside merchandising, digital, support functional leads (finance, property, HR) and our country managers.”
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