Mikel Arteta joins Under Armour as a Global Ambassador

08.12.2025

One of the game’s top managers is set to bring his unique leadership and world-class knowledge as Director of Performance at Under Armour.

Mikel Arteta has today been announced as Under Armour’s latest Global Ambassador and new Director of Performance, representing the coming together of a shared belief in making athletes better.

Arteta will bring his insights, unique outlook and deep understanding of sport and its athletes to oversee and shape Under Armour’s journey in football and beyond. The partnership represents a powerful alignment with Under Armour’s belief, values and commitment to developing the next generation of athletes.

With Mikel’s extensive experience at the top level as an athlete and now a coach, he will share insights with Under Armour into areas such as product development, talent identification and leadership to continue growing Under Armour’s stature in global football. Mikel’s track record of providing young players with a platform to flourish also makes him the perfect leader to drive forward the UA Next program and Under Armour’s community impact in London.

Unveiled to the world’s press at an exclusive media moment in London alongside Under Armour Founder and CEO, Kevin Plank, Arteta spoke about what inspires him to compete at the top level, why he adopts and implements a disruptive mindset, and what he hopes to achieve in this role at Under Armour.

“The collaboration with Under Armour is the perfect opportunity for me to work with a partner committed to making young athletes better. "

“I’m passionate about providing a platform for the next generation of players coming through in football and the top level of talent already signed with the brand demonstrates that Under Armour is too."

Mikel Arteta

“We share the same mentality in always striving for more by finding new ways to innovate and disrupt the game at the top level. Our values in pursuing greatness are closely aligned and together, I'm confident we’re going to achieve great things in football.”

“Bringing Mikel on-board will revolutionise our football business and demonstrates how serious we are about leading the next generation of football players. "

"I have a great rapport with Mikel and admire how he constantly pushes himself and those around him through his disruptive thinking. For me there really is no one more qualified or suited to the role.”

Kevin Plank, Founder and CEO of Under Armour

The announcement of Arteta’s new role will be followed by an upcoming bold and disruptive football campaign from Under Armour, ‘Be The Problem’, which launches on 15th August ahead of the start of the new football season. A perfect embodiment of the campaign with his elite tactical mind constantly seeking ways to disrupt teams, the return of the Premier League this week will see Arteta and Arsenal back in action.

In his new role as UA’s Director of Performance, a key focus for Arteta will be the development of the next generation of athletes through a leading role in Under Armour’s UA Next program. In this capacity, Arteta will take his exceptional eye for talent and player development skills, paving a way for more local heroes to arise.

UA Next is an athlete engagement ecosystem, launched in London in 2023, designed to inspire, support and celebrate the next generation of athletes trying to break through. With UA Next, Under Armour gives these athletes the chance to defy expectations, as any 16 - 20 year old can sign up, test themselves, and earn a spot on the UA Next Athlete roster; unlocking a suite of pro-level support, experts, facilities and experiences designed to take their game to the next level.

After 10,000+ athlete tests and 18 contracts handed out, UA Next is now reaching a new level with Mikel Arteta, drafting in one of the world's best coaches to provide a platform to be great and join a community of young athletes who are changing the game.

BALTIMORE, Sept. 27, 2022 – Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE: UA, UAA) today announced the release of its 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report, outlining a new sustainability framework, goals, and targets that will guide the company’s work to reduce the environmental footprint associated with its products and operations while accelerating its social and community impact. Aligned with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and Sustainable Accounting Standard Board (SASB) industry standards, the report outlines 23 goals and targets designed to drive company progress across three key pillars – Products, Home Field, and Team – and underscore Under Armour’s core values, including ‘Act Sustainably’ and ‘Stand for Equality.’ “As a global innovator and leader in athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories, we believe Under Armour has an important role to play in addressing impending challenges facing our society, industry, and planet. This belief informs our innovation methods and compels us to rethink, reinvent, and reimagine our products and how we make them in our work to support athletes and protect people and our shared planet,” said Colin Browne, Under Armour Interim President and CEO. “Mindful that lasting change will require global cooperation across communities and industries, our new report conveys our renewed commitments to continuous improvement, industrywide collaboration, and transparent communication with our stakeholders in our ongoing sustainability journey.” Under Armour’s sustainability approach, What’s Under Matters, reflects the company’s mission to make athletes better by focusing on performance-driven innovations that utilize more sustainable materials designed for recyclability and more efficient production processes in its delivery of durable, quality, high-performing products athletes know and trust. “The details underlying a company’s sustainability strategy are foundational to its longevity and ability to generate lasting impact. For this reason, Under Armour has worked diligently over the years to finalize our approach and take concerted action before releasing this report,” said Michael Levine, Under Armour VP and Chief Sustainability Officer. “We’re pleased to share our accomplishments and perspective on our future goals, and we look forward to providing updates on our progress.” A selection of report highlights within each pillar follows: Products – Through 10 goals, the company is embracing material innovations that will enable less waste and more durability, setting the stage for circular systems by 2030, including: Prioritizing recycled and renewable materials and reducing single-use plastic brand product packaging by 75% by 2025. Implementing sustainability and circular design principles in at least half of its products by 2027 and developing chemistry and processes that can enable a circular footwear program to be launched in market, at scale, by 2030. At the end of 2021, approximately 40% of fabrics used in the company’s apparel and accessories were made from materials capable of being recycled. Supporting innovation that reduces fiber shedding from textiles and targeting 75% of fabric to be made of low-shed materials, as defined by industry-leading guidance on fabric shedding that the company will work collectively to shape by 2030. Home Field – The company is working to reduce its overall environmental footprint and do its part to protect the planet through seven goals, including: Eliminating 100% of biocides and fluorine DWR in its products by 2025. Reducing absolute scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and increasing renewable energy in owned and operated facilities to 100% by 2030. Advancing low-impact manufacturing, reducing the environmental impact of its materials, and targeting net-zero emissions by 2050. Team – The company is supporting its people and communities through six goals that build upon longstanding efforts, including: Continuing to invest in teammates' health, safety, and well-being – including through initiatives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion and develop underrepresented talent at all levels. Protecting workers' human rights and well-being in its supply chain through comprehensive programs and audits. Working to create opportunities for millions of youth to engage in sports by 2030. To download the 2021 Sustainability & Impact Report and for further information on Under Armour’s sustainability program, visit this link. About Under Armour Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading inventor, marketer, and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. Designed to empower human performance, Under Armour's innovative products and experiences are engineered to make athletes better. For further information, please visit http://about.underarmour.com. Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, estimates, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding our goals, targets, commitments, future planned initiatives and the timing and effectiveness of any of the foregoing, including those relating to the environment, human capital matters, social and labor issues, and community impact; the development and introduction of new products, technologies and ways of working; our assumptions and the implementation of our sustainability strategies; the future impacts of our investments and initiatives; and the standards and expectations of third parties. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “outlook,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and changes in circumstances that may cause events or our actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events, results, actions, activity levels, performance or achievements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements, including our assumptions not being realized, scientific or technological developments, evolving sustainability strategies, evolving government regulations, and the risks and uncertainties set forth in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the statement's date or to reflect unanticipated events.

Under Armour, Inc. (“the company”) (NYSE: UA, UAA), today announced that Patrik Frisk will step down as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and as a member of the Board of Directors (board), effective June 1, 2022. The board has initiated a comprehensive internal and external search process to identify a permanent President and CEO. Until a successor is named, the board has appointed Colin Browne, the company’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), as interim President and CEO, effective June 1, 2022. To support the transition, Frisk will remain with Under Armour as an advisor through September 1, 2022. “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Patrik for his valuable contributions to Under Armour over the past five years,” said Kevin Plank, Under Armour Founder, Executive Chairman and Brand Chief. “During his tenure, we made significant strides in advancing enterprise-wide operational excellence, and Patrik’s steadfast leadership has been crucial to strengthening our foundation and positioning the company for our next growth phase. As we search for Patrik’s permanent successor, Colin’s experience as a seasoned executive in our industry and leading critical operational aspects of our business will serve Under Armour well as interim CEO.” Plank continued, “Under Armour is evolving to meet the needs of our athletes worldwide. As we transition, we are committed to identifying additional opportunities to drive improved returns for our shareholders and deliver for athletes, partners, and teammates. There is a huge opportunity in front of us. I look forward to working closely with the board during the search process to find our next leader who will take us to new heights. In the meantime, we are moving forward and will continue to connect with athletes in exciting ways, offering them exactly what they need when they need it.” Frisk, who joined Under Armour in 2017, helped architect its long-term strategic plan that underscored its commitment to athletic performance by reengineering its structure, systems, and go-to-market process. Under his leadership, the company delivered industry-leading products, deepened relationships with consumers and customers, and advanced its purpose, vision, mission, and values. “It has been the greatest privilege of my career to serve Under Armour athletes, customers, shareholders, and teammates. I am extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished as a team,” said Frisk. “Together, we have done a tremendous amount of work to strengthen this iconic brand while significantly solidifying its operations. Colin has an intimate understanding of the Under Armour business and our industry. I have every confidence that his stewardship will allow for a seamless transition.” Browne said, “What unifies and drives Under Armour is our purpose: to empower those who strive for more. This transition is an opportunity to further our long-term goals. I am grateful for Patrik’s leadership and partnership. As we work to deliver industry-leading innovation and premium experiences to athletes globally, we remain focused on amplifying the strong foundation that’s been set over the past few years.” Since joining the company in 2016, Browne modernized Under Armour’s digital go-to-market strategy and direct-to-consumer model and transformed its supply chain organization, leading to significant margin improvement and operating efficiency. Browne has held the role of COO since 2020 and oversees supply chain, global planning, sustainability, information technology, enterprise data management, commercial optimization, go-to-market strategy, and distribution capabilities. Browne has been an integral part of the company's successful transformation, and his leadership has been critical to navigating global supply challenges caused by the pandemic. About Under Armour, Inc. Under Armour, Inc., headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, is a leading inventor, marketer and distributor of branded athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. Designed to empower human performance, Under Armour’s innovative products and experiences are engineered to make athletes better. For further information, please visit http://about.underarmour.com. Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, projections, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts, such as statements regarding our future financial condition or results of operations, our prospects, and strategies for future growth, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and results of operations, the development and introduction of new products, and the implementation of our marketing and branding strategies. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “outlook,” “potential” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that may cause events or our actual activities or results to differ significantly from those expressed in any forward-looking statement. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future events, results, actions, activity levels, performance, or achievements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our industry and our business, financial condition and results of operations, including recent impacts on the global supply chain; failure of our suppliers or manufacturers to produce or deliver our products in a timely or cost-effective manner; labor or other disruptions at ports or our suppliers or manufacturers; changes in general economic or market conditions that could affect overall consumer spending or our industry; increased competition causing us to lose market share or reduce the prices of our products or to increase our marketing efforts significantly; fluctuations in the costs of raw materials and commodities we use in our products and our supply chain; changes to the financial health of our customers; our ability to successfully execute our long-term strategies; our ability to effectively drive operational efficiency in our business and successfully execute any restructuring plans and realize their expected benefits; our ability to effectively develop and launch new, innovative and updated products; our ability to accurately forecast consumer shopping and engagement preferences and consumer demand for our products and manage our inventory in response to changing demands; loss of key customers, suppliers or manufacturers; our ability to further expand our business globally and to drive brand awareness and consumer acceptance of our products in other countries; our ability to manage the increasingly complex operations of our global business; the impact of global events beyond our control, including military conflict; our ability to successfully manage or realize expected results from significant transactions and investments; our ability to effectively market and maintain a positive brand image; our ability to effectively meet the expectations of our stakeholders with respect to environmental, social and governance practices; the availability, integration and effective operation of information systems and other technology, as well as any potential interruption of such systems or technology; any disruptions, delays or deficiencies in the design, implementation or application of our global operating and financial reporting information technology system; our ability to attract key talent and retain the services of our senior management and other key employees; our ability to access capital and financing required to manage our business on terms acceptable to us; our ability to accurately anticipate and respond to seasonal or quarterly fluctuations in our operating results; risks related to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; our ability to comply with existing trade and other regulations, and the potential impact of new trade, tariff and tax regulations on our profitability; risks related to data security or privacy breaches; and our potential exposure to litigation and other proceedings. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the statement’s date or to reflect unanticipated events. Under Armour Contacts: Lance Allega, SVP, Investor Relations & Corporate Development, (410) 246-6810 Blake Simpson, SVP, Global Communications, Community Impact & Events, (443) 630-9959

Trust builds great athletes, and trust runs deep at Under Armour. From trusting yourself to go the extra mile to trusting your teammates to step in when you need support, trust unites us and helps us Strive for More. Newsweek has recognized Under Armour in their inaugural Most Trustworthy Companies 2022 list. In partnership with Statista, a German company specializing in marketing and consumer data, Newsweek ranked Under Armour #2 out of 16 total companies for the Textile, Clothing, & Luxury Goods category. “Each and every teammate at Under Armour plays a role in bringing our purpose to life,” said Under Armour CEO Patrik Frisk. “Being recognized as one of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies speaks volumes to the passion and integrity our teammates bring forward in everything they do in both their professional and personal lives.” With help from a survey of 50,000 U.S. residents, companies were evaluated across different elements related to customer, investor, and employee trust. Survey respondents answered questions about how companies engaged customers and treated their employees. Publicly traded U.S. corporations with $500 million or more in annual revenues made the list. Newsweek reviewed companies aligning to 22 industries, ranging from Banks, Energy & Utilities, Health Care & Life Sciences, and more. Insights from the 2022 Edelman Trust Barometer showed how employee trust is the number one driver of trust. More specifically, many employees expect their employer to engage on societal issues and provide quality information. Under Armour’s ongoing and tangible actions to address issues like economic equality and community policing relationships are felt across the business. As Under Armour continues to put its purpose at the forefront of all activities, the business will continue to make decisions grounded in doing what is right for their consumers instead of solely responding to the market and reacting to competitors. Under Armour is committed to empowering those who strive for more, and the company’s values – Act Sustainably, Celebrate the Wins, Stand for Equality, Love Athletes and Fight on Together – serve as both a checklist for each of our programs and the qualities expected of every teammate.

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Mikel Arteta joins Under Armour as a Global Ambassador

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