The 53-year-old (pictured) will join the brand’s executive board on August 1 and succeed Hainer as CEO on October 1.
Rorsted has been CEO of German consumer goods group Henkel since 2008.
The company is behind brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite.
Igor Landau, chairman of adidas’ supervisory board, says: “Kasper Rorsted is the perfect candidate to succeed Herbert Hainer as CEO of adidas.
“He has extensive international management experience, having held positions with high calibre companies such as Oracle, Compaq and Hewlett Packard.
“For eight years Kasper Rorsted has successfully headed up Henkel, a DAX company that just like the adidas Group is known for its growth, internationality and sustainability.
“Kasper Rorsted is a passionate runner, skier and football fan.
“Therefore I am convinced that, together with the top management of the adidas Group, he will continue the company’s dynamic growth strategy and lead the adidas Group to new successes.”
Landau also thanked Hainer, who will leave adidas on September 30: “Herbert Hainer has done a tremendous job for the adidas Group.
“Under his leadership, adidas Group sales have tripled, net income and the number of employees have quadrupled, and the value of the company has increased from €3 billion to €18 billion.
“Yet it is not only the financial metrics that are notable.
“Under Herbert Hainer, the adidas Group has become one of the most sustainable corporations in Europe and one of the world’s most attractive employers.”
