Build your career in the sportswear industry

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“[vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]Thibault Durand is a former student of the MSc Marketing, Communication & Business Strategies in Lyon. After graduating in 2008 and starting his career at Timberland, he is now Senior Director Adidas Originals, Action Sports & Yeezy Europe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]

What are your daily missions?

My role is to drive the strategy and execution of the ranges I am responsible for in Europe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]

What aspects of your work do you enjoy the most ?

I really enjoy being responsible for the P&L (“Profits & Losses“) of the Business Unit. I also like the versatility of my job, which allows me to navigate, influence and make decisions on several aspects of the business: ranges, marketing, communication, financial forecasts, HR… The fact that this is a “generalist” job rather than a “specialist” job makes me passionate. The wide range of responsibilities rather than specialization in a specific field such as product development or supply chain suits me quite well.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]

How did you get into the sportswear business?

I wanted to focus on sports in a broad sense and for my internship I had the opportunity to join Quiksilver as Assistant Product Manager for shoes and accessories. This first immersion in  the world of sportswear seduced me immediately and I decided to evolve there…[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]

Can you retrace your steps since your graduation ?

After graduation, I got an interview for the only company I really wanted to work for: Timberland. With a lot of preparation and a little bit of luck, I started my career as Trade Marketing Manager for Timberland France in January 2009. I spent the first 5 years in Paris: after 2 years in Trade, I was Marketing Manager for 1 year, then I spent almost 3 years in Sales as Key Account Manager.

After this period in Paris, I moved to Switzerland and spent 18 months there as head of merchandising EMEA Men’s footwear. The idea was not to leave Switzerland after only a year and a half but as initial plans almost never coincide with reality, an opportunity arose at Adidas as Merchandising Director for Originals, Action Sports, NEO & Yeezy, based in the German headquarters. Having arrived in Bavaria in April 2016 in what is one of the most extraordinary companies in the sportswear industry, I was able to grow quickly after my manager was promoted over the end of the year. For almost two years, I have been in charge of Originals, Yeezy & Action Sports for Europe.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]

What were your objectives in joining the INSEEC MSc & MBA program ? Were these satisfied ?

By joining this school, I wanted to acquire a new way of thinking in order to make the link between theory and practice and thus know how to apply what I had learned previously. After graduation, I felt that I had achieved my goals and could think concretely and not just theoretically.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][vc_column_text]

What advice would you give to students who would like to work in an industry like yours ?

I would advise them to develop and work on their personal added value. There are plenty of good business school graduates. But that’s not the point, and the idea is not to be the best, but to be “different” and thus value this characteristic and validate it through your academic career – Be confident, collaborative & creative ![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][vc_column column_padding=”” no-extra-padding=”” column_padding_position=”” all=”” background_color_opacity=”” background_hover_color_opacity=”” width=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”” in_container=”” scene_position=”” center=”” text_color=”” dark=”” text_align=”” left=”” overlay_strength=””][/vc_row]”

Updated 24 February 2022