Jean-François Palus became Group Managing Director of PPR SA in 2008, and joined the Supervisory Board of PUMA in 2007 and the PPR SA Board in 2009. He was Chief Financial Officer of PPR SA, the main shareholder of PUMA, for six years. A graduate of France's HEC business school, Jean-François Palus began his career with Arthur Andersen as an auditor and financial adviser. He joined the PPR group in 1991.

'I have come to value PUMA highly over the last five years of successful cooperation and I would like to thank Jochen Zeitz for his invaluable contribution to PUMA's outstanding development for more than 20 years', said Jean-François Palus. 'PUMA is a fantastic brand and company with highly committed people. I am looking forward to working with management to tap into the huge potential alongside Franz Koch and his PUMA team to become the most desirable and sustainable sportlifestyle company in the world.'