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Under Armour's new CEO will take over at a tricky time for the brand. Here are some of the biggest challenges he'll face.

Kevin Plank is stepping down as CEO of Under Armour on January 1. Plank, who founded Under Armour in 1996, will be replaced by Patrik Frisk, who is currently COO of the company.

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Under Armour has a new CEO.

On Tuesday , the brand's founder and longtime leader, Kevin Plank, stepped down from his role as CEO after 23 years. Plank will hand over his duties to Patrik Frisk officially on January 1.

Frisk, who joined Under Armour as its COO in 2017, previously served as CEO of Aldo Group and has nearly 30 years of experience in the retail sector.

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Frisk will take the helm at a tricky time for Under Armour. Revenue growth has dropped from double-digit to single-digit figures as sales in its core North American market have continued to fall.

  • Winning back customers in its core North American market, which accounts for 68% of its sales, and boosting revenues there.
  • Addressing what analysts have dubbed its " identity crisis " and showing shoppers exactly what its place in the market is.
  • Forging a distinct position for the brand as the market becomes increasingly crowded with other options for athletic wear.
  • Communicating innovation at the brand and making sure it gets noticed for the work it gets done. (Plank told Fortune's Phil Wahba on Tuesday that he didn't feel the brand got enough credit for its HOVR smart shoe, which is connected to an app and gives the wearer real-time data on their fitness performance).
  • Bringing women into the bran d with new products and marketing and finally shedding its longtime masculine image.
  • If management does choose to steer away from the athleisure trend, making sure it's winning over customers with performance wear and being the best in the market.
  • Encouraging customers to pay full price after pulling back from discount retailers.
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See Also:

SEE ALSO: As Under Armour's longtime CEO steps down, here's how the company went from a new hotshot sportswear brand taking on Nike to having a wholly uncertain future

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