Amer Sports announces Atomic leadership change

Michael Absmaier, currently Atomic’s CFO & VP Business Development, has been appointed President Atomic and Armada and member of the Amer Sports Global Leadership Team, effective January 1, 2027. Michael will succeed Wolfgang Mayrhofer who will retire as President Atomic and Armada at the end of 2026, concluding a career of more than four decades with Atomic.

Michael Absmaier brings more than twenty years of experience within Amer Sports to the role, including senior leadership positions across its winter sports businesses. As Atomic’s CFO & VP Business Development, he has played a central role in the brand’s strategic and financial direction for more than a decade. He has also served as acting CEO of Armada, helping guide the brand through a period of strong growth.

During his tenure, Wolfgang has helped shape Atomic’s evolution from a ski company into one of the most complete brands in winter sports, bringing skis, boots, bindings, helmets, goggles, and equipment together under one name. Under his leadership, Atomic has more than doubled its business over the past decade while strengthening its position at the heart of skiing, from the World Cup start gate to the first turns of a new generation

”On behalf of the Amer Sports Executive Committee and Global Leadership Team, we want to warmly thank Wolfgang for his many valuable contributions to Atomic and Amer Sports over the past 40 years, and extend our best wishes for his future. I’m excited to welcome Michael to his new position and look forward to his contributions in driving the sport of skiing forward,” says James Zheng, CEO of Amer Sports.

In addition at Amer Tak Yan (Dennis) Tao has resigned as a member of the board of directors. Shaoxiang (Eric) Ding, the son of Amer Sports and Anta Sports chairman Shizhong Ding, has been appointed a director, effective immediately.

In a regulatory filing, Amer Sports said Tao’s resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company’s management team or the board on any matter relating to the operations, policies or practices of the company or any issues regarding the company’s accounting policies or practices.

Ding currently serves as chairman of Descente (China) Co., Ltd., a joint venture through which Anta Sports Products Limited operates the Descente brand business across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Anta Sports is the largest shareholder of Amer Sports.

In this role, Ding is responsible for Descente’s overall strategy, product development, retail management, and channel expansion throughout Greater China. Ding has worked across Anta Sports businesses since 2015, including a management role at Maia Active, Anta Sports’ premium women’s activewear brand, since January 2026.

In addition, the board appointed Wei Lin, who is a director on the board, as a member of the board’s compensation committee, effective immediately.

Finland-based Amer Sports’ brands include Arc’teryx, Salomon, Wilson, Atomic, Peak Performance, Armada, ATEC, DeMarini, EvoShield and Louisville Slugger.