Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank had high praise for Donald Trump on Tuesday, saying the newly elected president is deeply passionate about business and a “real asset” for the nation’s economy.
President Trump met with Mr. Plank along with other business leaders last month at the White House to discuss his campaign promises of cutting corporate regulations and taxes.
Mr. Plank signaled that he’s optimistic about the next four years, telling CNBC’s “Fast Money Halftime Report” that he respects the president’s tenacity.
“I think he’s highly passionate,” the 44-year-old executive said Tuesday. “To have such a pro-business President is something that is a real asset for the country. People can really grab that opportunity.
“He wants to build things,” he added. “He wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive. I’m a big fan of people that operate in the world of publish and iterate versus think, think, think, think, think. So there’s a lot that I respect there.”
Mr. Plank said he’s also hopeful about Under Armour’s future despite reporting their second disappointing quarter in a row. He said the company “plays offense” and “throws punches,” but there are tweaks that need to be made.
“North American retail is in a very difficult place,” he said. “I think we’ve looked at some things we can probably do better as well.
“And we’ve got a long-term strategy,” he said. “We remain committed to it. And I think when you look at the numbers and you look underneath the hood, we’ve got a great business and a great brand and we’re going to keep driving towards that.”
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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