After coming under fire for controversial remarks made at a company meeting last year, Karen Parkin, executive board member of Adidas AG in charge of global human resources, is leaving the board and exiting the company.
Ture said Parkin was phrasing it in a way that suggested the people who brought the issue to the firm’s attention were to blame, “instead of recognizing or apologizing for her past wrongdoings, showing a true change of heart. In a way, they’re trying to deflect the blame of the past weeks onto the very people of color and minority groups and every ally. They are deflecting the blame onto us.”
Adidas’ senior leadership team has been dealing with a good amount of controversy. More than a month ago Black employees at Adidas criticized the company for the lack of support toward them and the greater community. In a matter of days, a coalition of employees joined to call for significant changes.
But in addition to a press release, the athletic conglomerate’s recent diversity-oriented initiatives were highlighted in an e-mail. Adidas’ efforts include setting up an international committee to accelerate inclusion and equity and signing the Juneteenth Pledge, which calls for companies to make June 19 a paid holiday for U.S. employees and to identify a relevant day in international offices to recognize the emancipation of enslaved people in their country.