Business people : Germany's 21sportgroup Names Michael Burk Managing Director

Michael Burk, industry leader of retail for key-account sales at Google, will be joining the management team at the multi-channel retailing group 21sportgroup and taking on the position of managing director at 21streetwear.com at the start of the new year.

Burk, who is a 38-year-old sales and marketing professional, held various management positions at adidas in Germany, Scandinavia, and Latin America for many years and then later at Google, where he was responsible for renowned brands such as HUGO BOSS, Esprit, adidas, PUMA, and Nike as well as successful commercial customers, including the otto group, Globetrotter, IKEA, and Douglas.

"We're delighted to welcome Michael Burk, one of the most experienced insiders in multichannel sales in the sports industry and the corresponding online marketing segment," explains Jörg Mayer, founder and managing partner of 21sportsgroup, to which the online brands 21run, 21cycles, and 21streetwear as well as retail brands L&S Lauf- & Sport Shop and Vertical Ride belong. "He will help us continue along our path of extremely dynamic growth, promote internationalization, and expand the range to include more sports segments."

21sportsgroup combines the online and in-store retail activities of L&S Lauf- & Sport Shop GmbH and VR bike GmbH. With a cutting-edge store concept and an e-commerce selection that is successful throughout Europe, the 21sportsgroup companies market the full range of running, cycling, and triathlon sporting goods and are authorized partners to all leading manufacturers. The online shops 21run.com, 21cycles.com, and 21streetwear.com offer an extensive selection of ex-warehouse, high-quality running shoes, bicycles, textiles, and accessories for both recreational and professional athletes, ambitious runners, cyclists, and triathletes.

21sportsgroup pursues consistent growth and, with long-term success, is building a bridge between online and in-store retail. Every day, the crew of enthusiastic athletes proves that expertise and exceptional services play a key role in the success of modern multichannel strategies, including e-commerce. At our Mannheim site, 21sportsgroup has opened a brand-new, highly efficient logistics center with extensive warehousing and shipment capacities, a synergy that benefits both online and offline retail.

( SportsOneSource Media )