Uwe Gärtner
Utrecht
Summary
Passionate and experienced Sales and Sportsmarketing expert, who puts people and team always in the center first.
Motivating and inspiring colleague with the ability to adapt to changes and accept challenges.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Sports Marketing Director, Distributors (Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Isreal, Greece)
Nike EMEA
01.2022 - 10.2024
- Sports Marketing Team and Strategy lead for Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Israel, Greece and member of Sports Marketing Football leadership and EMEA Distributor leadership team
- Responsible for all strategic planning, budget, partner/athlete contract negotiations, relationships and experiences with athletes across the region with key focus on football, rugby and others (including Nigerian Football Federation and South African Sprinboks)
- Owned portfolio of ~300 athletes
- 3 national teams and 3 football academies
- Over a 2 year window, led and executed players and national team divestment strategy, reducing 50% of player portfolio and divestment of Qatar and Saudi Arabia NT
- Led service team, respective planning and executing prior and during WC22 in Qatar
Manager Nike Team & Partnerships Nordics/Benelux
Nike EMEA
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Nike Team Sales lead Benelux/Nordics: marketplace across 8 countries, 4 HC and NR $22 million
- Responsible for 2 national teams (Norway & Finland) and 11 Pro Clubs
- Drove and executed FBB divestment strategy, elevating focus on strategic accounts (Stadium, Unisport, Intersport, SM, Badge, Torsion, S24, XXL)
EKIN Manager Central + GFA Stretch Assignment
Nike AGS
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Recruited, implemented and led a team of 15 who owned the servicing of performance authenticator retailers across 3 countries, to build brand inspiration, strength and elevate product education
- Took on a 6 week stretch assignment with global football team (Portland based), focusing on German Pro Clubs, driving new jersey designs, crafting and supporting with Clubs' board presentations
Regional Intersport Account Sales Representative
Nike AGS
01.2010 - 01.2013
- Executed regional Intersport account strategy, partnering with 25 accounts in North/East Germany
- Owned all seasonal and operational sales processes, with focus on Sportswear, Mens & Women's Training and Action Sports (SB)
Key Account Executive Football - Department Stores
Nike AGS
01.2008 - 01.2010
- As a key member of the regional sales force, responsible for driving and executing the football sales strategy across regional department stores Karstadt, Kaufhof, Metro and Sportsarena
- Initiated and implemented exclusive product strategies that scaled beyond the account group
Sales Representative Football & Team Sales
Nike AGS
01.2001 - 01.2008
- Key member of the regional football authenticator sales force, partnering with 55 accounts in North, East and South Germany
- Owned and managed negotiations and services on several pro clubs: Dynamo Dresden, Leipzig, Union Berlin, CZ Jena, Zwickau
Brand EKIN Football
Nike AGS
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Joined the force that was responsible to elevate authentication at retail
- Learned diverse communication and presentation skills to ultimately transform the Nike football message into stronger relationships in retail and successful business driver
Sales Manager Nike Town Berlin
Nike Germany
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Joined the retail flagship store in Germany as a starting point of a 25-year career at Nike
- Witnessed and became part of the transformation of an empty retail store to a true Nike temple; responsible for the football and tennis department
Education
Business College -
Economic
01.1994
Skills
- Effective communicator
- Excellent networker
- Inspiring team leader
- Team player
- Inter-personal skills
- Negotiation skills
- Sales professional
- Sports Industry Marketplace knowledge
- Cross-functional team leadership
- Learning agility
- Agility
- Self-reflection
Languages
German (Native)
English (Fluent)
Dutch (Conversational)
Hobbies and Interests
- Football
- Sports
- Travel
- Music
Strengthsandcoreskills
- Effective and strong communicator
- 100% Team Player
- Outstanding inter-personal and negotiation skills
- Passionate and business-oriented sales professional
- Extensive brand and marketplace knowledge
- Diverse experience in leading cross-functional winning teams
- High learning agility with ability to self-reflect
Timeline
Sports Marketing Director, Distributors (Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Isreal, Greece)
Nike EMEA
01.2022 - 10.2024
Manager Nike Team & Partnerships Nordics/Benelux
Nike EMEA
01.2017 - 01.2021
EKIN Manager Central + GFA Stretch Assignment
Nike AGS
01.2013 - 01.2017
Regional Intersport Account Sales Representative
Nike AGS
01.2010 - 01.2013
Key Account Executive Football - Department Stores
Nike AGS
01.2008 - 01.2010
Sales Representative Football & Team Sales
Nike AGS
01.2001 - 01.2008
Brand EKIN Football
Nike AGS
01.2000 - 01.2001
Sales Manager Nike Town Berlin
Nike Germany
01.1999 - 01.2001
Business College -
Economic
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