Puma announced that Dennis Tao has been appointed as chairman of its supervisory board, two weeks after Anta’s 29.06 percent acquisition of the brand was officially completed.
The move was revealed on Wednesday and the German sportswear maker also named Jeanne Huang to the board after Anta previously said it would seek representation in Puma’s board structure.
“Puma is one of the world’s most recognized sports brands, with a unique heritage and significant long-term potential,” Tao said. “I look forward to working with the Supervisory Board and Management Board to support the company’s strategic transformation and sustainable long-term growth.”
Tao, 50, was previously a director of Amer Sports, which Anta is also a majority shareholder, from 2019 and 2026. Huang, 56, is the CEO of PIPA International, which links Anta with creative talent for product projects, collaborations and consumer strategy.
Their appointments were voted on Wednesday and will run until Puma’s annual general meeting in May 2027.
Anta closed its deal to purchase the stake in Puma on October 7, months after it was revealed in January that the Pinault family’s Artemis holding company would sell its share for $1.8 billion. The Chinese government approved the purchase in September in what was a major regulatory step that gives Anta a significant piece of a legacy sportswear brand.
With the addition of Tao, Héloïse Temple-Boyer will vacate her role as chair and Jean-Marc Duplaix will end his tenure as Deputy Chairman of the Supervisory Board and Chairman of the Audit Committee with the appointment of Huang.
The new seven-member board lineup now consists of Tao, Huang, Roland Krueger, Bernd Illig, Fiona May and Harsh Saini, with Martin Koeppel becoming Deputy Chairman and taking over the Audit Committee.
“We are excited to welcome Dennis and Jeanne to Puma Supervisory Board,” Puma CEO Arthur Hoeld said. “Their deep understanding of the industry and their proven track record with leading brands globally and in China will be valuable as we take Puma forward. Together with the entire Management Board, I look forward to partnering with them in shaping Puma’s next chapter.”
Anta was founded in 1991 by Ding Shizhong and is based in Jinjiang, Fujian, China and credits its rapid growth through acquisitions while becoming a sportswear powerhouse in its home country. The company is the third-largest company worldwide in the market behind Nike and Adidas and has its sights on further expansion.
“We believe the value of a multi-brand group lies in helping each brand realize its full potential by leveraging the capabilities and resources of the broader group,” Shizhong, who is now Anta’s board chairman, said in early October when the Puma acquisition was finally approved. “Puma has a rich heritage and strong underlying brand value. We have confidence in its management team and support the strategic transformation currently underway. As a long-term shareholder, we look forward to sharing our experience and capabilities, particularly in retail and operations, while respecting Puma’s independence and brand identity.”
