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In The News: MICAM Americas, Reebok, Adidas, Wigwam and More

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MICAM Americas has shifted its fall show back one additional day. The Las Vegas show will now run Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which will allow the show to avoid falling on Yom Kippur.


Boston-based Reebok will end its 9-year partnership with CrossFit at year’s end after CrossFit founder and former CEO Greg Glassman sent a controversial tweet about the death of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of the Minneapolis Police set off weeks of protest across the United States and the world. Glassman had responded to a tweet by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation describing racism and discrimination as public health issues by replying “It’s FLOYD-19.” Reebok’s decision ends negotiations between the parties on the possibility of extending their partnership further. On Tuesday, Glassman resigned his position as CEO on Tuesday.

"Our partnership with CrossFit HQ comes to an end later this year. Recently, we have been in discussions regarding a new agreement, however, in light of recent events, we have made the decision to end our partnership with CrossFit HQ," a spokesperson for Reebok said in a statement. "We will fulfill our remaining contractual obligations in 2020. We owe this to the CrossFit Games competitors, fans and the community. What doesn’t change is our commitment and dedication to CrossFitters and the passionate CrossFit community.”


Sheboygan, WI-based Wigwam has named Chris Chesebro GM of Operations and Margaret Newhard GM of Administration. Chesebro and Newhard, who are siblings, are the fourth generation of leaders of the 115-year-old sockmaker. Both have been at Wigman for more than 10 years, Newhard as head of product development and Chesebro as head of operations.

“Although it is an interesting time to step up, Chris and I are really excited to lead Wigwam and be working together to propel Wigwam forward for generations to come. Our family members preceding us have all been leaders in innovation and we will continue to do the same,” Newhard said in a statement. “As we all move through these very challenging times created by the Coronavirus, Wigwam Mills is taking hard, but necessary, steps to safeguard the future of our iconic brand. We are working with each of our customers to create a very focused program in the short term while reconfirming their needs that will promote growth in the future.”

After shutting down under Wisconsin’s stay-at-home order on March 25, the brand has been ramping product back up since May 19, and said it hopes to bring back more laid-off employees as business increases.


In the wake of the global protests sparked by the death of George Floyd and following actions by employees demanding internal change at the company, Adidas unveiled what CEO Kasper Rorsted called efforts to “create an environment in which all our employees feel safe, heard and have equal opportunity to advance their careers.” The initial plan included a $20 million investment in programs that support Black communities in the U.S.; 50 scholarships each year for five years for Black students at partner schools; and a commitment to hiring Black and Latinx people for at least 30 percent of the new positions at the U.S. Reebok and Adidas offices, as well as targeting increased representation from Black and Latinx people through the workforce. On Wednesday morning, the company made a new announcement: It would commit $100 million through 2025 in addition to the existing $20 million commitment.

“The events of the past two weeks have caused all of us to reflect on what we can do to confront the cultural and systemic forces that sustain racism. We have had to look inward to ourselves as individuals and our organization and reflect on systems that disadvantage and silence Black individuals and communities,” Rorsted said in a statement. “As Adidas, we will create a lasting change and we will do it now.” Adidas North America head Zion Armstrong and Reebok president Matt O’Toole are holding town hall meetings and will work with Black employees to identify further action, and further details are expected.