One year after assuming the Fila USA president role, Todd Klein has been elevated to global brand president.
Fila Holdings Corp., the parent company of Fila, said that Klein would assume the the newly created role. In a statement on Monday, Fila stated Klein will assume oversight for the operations of the Fila brand —including global product and marketing strategies — in addition to his existing responsibilities.
Fila will also join the board of Fila Luxembourg, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fila Holdings that oversees the global trademark in all markets except for China, Hong Kong and Macao.
“I am honored and excited to take on this broader set of responsibilities within Fila Group to lead our strategy asserting Fila’s position as a premium lifestyle sports brand while upholding our valuable heritage,” Klein said in a statement. “We’ll seek to deliver game-changing product innovations and continue to invest in inspirational collaborations. And we’ll reach out to consumers with a consistent brand voice across diverse platforms, leveraging their insights and feedback to more intentionally fuel product creation.”
Fila, in its statement announcing the move, referenced its five-year “Winning Together” strategy announced in 2022, which was created to make the company the “leading authentic sports brand inspired by the style, elegance and passion of its Italian heritage.” Fila said the creation of the global brand president role was intended to “unify and enhance Fila’s global brand and presence and foster a cohesive and superior consumer experience, while continuing to invest in accelerating innovation.”
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“At this exciting time for the Fila family, as we continue to make progress in our five-year global strategy, we needed a leader to ensure a sharper and more cohesive vision for Fila and to direct the brand to new heights,” Fila Holdings CEO and president Keun-Chang Yoon said in a statement. “Todd’s extensive industry experience and profound comprehension of FILA’s brand, operations, products, and services make him the ideal person to fill this vital role as global brand president.”
Klein, a 30-year industry veteran, assumed the Fila USA president role following the retirement of Jennifer Estabrook, who was named president of North America in 2019. Klein’s industry experience includes several roles at Adidas, last serving as its VP of advanced concepts, as well as the global sports marketing director for Reebok.
The brand’s efforts to bolster its presence in footwear and fashion in 2023 included high-profile ambassador signings, including model Hailey Bieber and South Korean actress Han Sohee, who both signed in September.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
