Business Leaders

Jochen Zeitz

Birthday : 04/06/1963
Place of birth : Mannheim - Germany
Country of residence : Germany
Linked companies : PPR SA

Jochen Zeitz is the charismatic CEO of Puma. In fifteen years, he revived the brand restoring its image.

Graduated in 1986 from the European Business School Oestrich-Winkel in Germany, Jochen Zeitz shows his talents in the company Colgate Palmolive in New York and Hamburg. His style and creativity allow him to be spotted by a headhunter who encouraged him to join the sports goods manufacturer Puma. He enters in Puma 1990 as marketing manager of the shoe section before being appointed a year later in charge of international marketing. In 1993, then aged of 30 years old, he became CEO of Puma. He became the youngest president of a company listed on the German stock exchange.


Therefore, the new president is working to make Puma "the most desirable brand in the world." Puma which had difficulties to exist alongside the giants companies as Nike and Adidas realized profits in just six months. To achieve to this situation, Jochen Zeitz decided to release the brand of stages to take it in the street and on the catwalks of fashion shows. Hiring the fashion designer Hussein Chalayan, he manages to give it a soul by installing it as a trendy brand near of luxury. The design is reviewed, the lines are uncluttered, Puma is present in parties of the hippest capitals.

Sponsorship is also reviewed. Jochen Zeits reinforces the presence of Puma in football in particular in Africa and extends his strategy to new disciplines most elite such as sailing and golf. A winning strategy since the benefits of Puma have continued to grow until 2008 when for the first time, Puma recorded a decline in profits of 13.5%. But the turnover has continued to increase.

In August 2007, Jochen Zeitz was appointed to the Board of Directors of Harley-Davidson Inc..

In March 2011, called for bigger responsibilities in the group PPR, he leaves some of his responsibilities to Franz Koch, the director of strategy for Puma.

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