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Decathlon has announced the appointment of Javier López as the new chief executive officer.
With 26 years of experience at the sporting goods retailer, López has held numerous positions within the company, in digital, logistics and retail.
Most recently, he headed Decathlon Germany from 2012 to 2015, then served as CEO of Decathlon Spain from 2015 to 2022. Having been the driving force behind the company’s strong growth in Spain, he was then appointed global chief value chain officer in 2022.
He will succeed Barbara Martin Coppola, who has held the position of CEO since March 2022.
On his appointment, López said: “I am particularly honoured by the confidence of Julien and the board of directors as I take up my new position, and I thank Barbara, with whom I have enjoyed working in the executive committee for the past 3 years.
“As a Decathlonian for 26 years, I’m proud of the work we’ve done over the years to bring the benefits of sport to more and more people around the world. Together, with all our teammates, we will, with determination, enthusiasm and humility, accelerate our economic development and our efforts to serve our human and environmental commitments.”
Martin Coppola added: “We have rethought our brand portfolio, signed partnerships with global reach and created new circular economy models. I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made. I have every confidence in Javier to lead an ever more ambitious company, in the image of Decathlon.”
Julien Leclercq, chairman of the Decathlon Group, said: “I would like to thank Barbara for the impactful work she has carried out over the past 3 years. Today, Decathlon is a sports brand that is increasingly recognised around the world for its products, its commitments and its positive impact.
“As Decathlon embarks on a new phase in its history, I have every confidence in Javier and his natural ability to bring people together to drive our ambition, and identify new levers for sustainable growth while further strengthening our unique human and inclusive culture.”
