About

Known the world over, leading sportswear manufacturer adidas employs more than 60,000 people in over 160 countries to produce over 850 million product units every year and generate global sales of €19bn. Frank Dassler has been the German multinational corporation’s group general counsel since 2004 and, in addition to overseeing all legal affairs, is also responsible for the compliance, social and environmental affairs, risk management and government relations functions. Being the grandson of the founder of Puma, who was the brother of adidas’ founder, Dassler has a deep and intricate understanding of the international sporting goods market. In recognition of this, Dassler was elected as president of the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) in 2014, following in footsteps of his father who held the same position between 1986 and 1989. Key mergers Dassler has worked on during his tenure at adidas include working on the acquisition of rival sportswear brand Reebok in 2005 for $3.8bn and fitness app maker Runtastic in 2015 for approximately $240m. Other hallmarks of Dassler’s career at adidas are assisting the company’s executive management further expand and consolidate the company’s global presence through a number of activities including major sponsorship deals with the world’s most famous sports teams and athletes. Before joining adidas, Dassler founded his own law firm in Herzogenaurach, working there between 1989 and 2004. Prior to that, Dassler was at Puma serving as president of Puma USA from 1985 until 1987 and public relations officer and head of research at the company’s German headquarters between 1977 and 1985. With such credentials, it is easy to see why Dassler is considered as one of the most distinguished and respected in-house lawyers operating in Germany today.