Robin Stalker

Robin grew up in Palmerston North, attending Palmerston North Boys High School before studying at Massey University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Studies, majoring in Finance.

He began his career in 1982 as a Chartered Accountant for Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young) in Wellington and subsequently accepted the offer of a transfer to London.

In 1986, Robin joined United International Pictures as Controller for the Far East, then travelled to Los Angeles to become Director of Operations for Warner Bros International. Relocating to Europe in 1992, he spent four years as a self-employed consultant advising clients such as CIC and the Hewitt Group.

Robin joined Adidas AG in 1996 as Head of Corporate Services/Reporting and has been working for the brand with the “three stripes” ever since. After stints as a vice president for Reporting and then Taxes, he became Chief Financial Officer in 2000. He was elected to the Adidas Executive Board in 2001 and has since been responsible for Finance. In 2005, he assumed additional responsibility as Labour Director. Robin resigned as CFO in May 2017 but continues as Director of Hydra Ventures, an Adidas backed investment and development firm.

In recent years Robin has become an Ambassador for Accounting for Sustainability, educating business on non-financial KPI’s and the impact finance divisions can have on a company’s social responsibility.

A fluent German speaker, Robin is on a number of Boards worldwide including as a member of the Supervisory Board of German automotive supplier Schaeffler AG.

While he remains a lifelong fan of New Zealand rugby, Robin shares his passion for the sport with the Bavarian Rugby Association, where he acts as Patron.