Adidas vs Samsung: Founders, CEOs and History
Adidas was founded in 1949 by Adolf Dassler and is led by Bjørn Gulden. Samsung was founded in 1969 by Lee Byung-chul and is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon.
Company facts
Founders
Adidas
Adolf Dassler
Adolf Dassler was the sole founder of Adidas. He developed sport-specific footwear, sought athlete feedback, and registered the Adidas company and 3-Stripes footwear in 1949.
Samsung
Lee Byung-chul
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung Sanghoe in Daegu in 1938, trading dried fish, produce and noodles.
CEOs and their tenures
Adidas
- Robert Louis-Dreyfus1993–2001
CEO
He led Adidas through its 1990s restructuring and transition to a publicly listed sporting-goods group.
Source - Herbert Hainer2001–2016
CEO
During his tenure Adidas expanded its brand portfolio and grew its global footwear and apparel business.
Source - Kasper Rørsted2016–2022
CEO
Under Rørsted's leadership from 2016 to 2022, Adidas doubled its North American market share and expanded annual e-commerce sales from €1 billion to over €4 billion.
Source - Bjørn Gulden2023–present
CEO
Adidas reported 2025 sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) during his tenure. His appointment was extended through 2030.
Source
Samsung
- Jong-Hee Han2022–2025
Vice Chairman and CEO
A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand. He died suddenly in March 2025 while in office.
Source - Jay Y. Lee2022–present
Executive Chairman
Grandson of the founder and son of Lee Kun-hee. He was convicted in the 2017 bribery case and pardoned in 2022, and became Executive Chairman in October 2022. In 2025 the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in the separate merger and accounting fraud case.
Source - Jun Young-hyun2024–present
Vice Chairman, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device Solutions
He implemented a complete overhaul of the semiconductor division's engineering processes, issuing a rare public apology in 2024 for the company's technological delays.
Source - Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh)2025–present
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head of Device eXperience
As head of the MX (Mobile eXperience) division, he heavily integrated AI features (Galaxy AI) into the S-series flagship phones to combat Apple's dominance in the premium tier.
Source
Timeline: Adidas and Samsung side by side
1924Adidas
Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory Established
Adolf and Rudolf Dassler established the predecessor shoe business in Herzogenaurach.
1936Adidas
Jesse Owens Wears Dassler Shoes
Jesse Owens competed in Dassler track shoes while winning four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics.
1938Samsung
Samsung Group begins
Lee Byung-chul founded Samsung as a trading company before later generations expanded the group into electronics and industry.
1949Adidas
Adidas Registered
Adolf Adi Dassler registered Adidas in Herzogenaurach after separating from Rudolf, who founded Puma.
1954Adidas
World Cup Boot Breakthrough
West Germany won the 1954 World Cup wearing Adidas boots with replaceable studs.
1969Samsung
Samsung Electronics established
Samsung Electronics Industry Co. Ltd. was established as the group entered electronics manufacturing.
1970Adidas
Telstar World Cup Match Ball
Adidas supplied the Telstar as the official match ball for the 1970 FIFA World Cup.
1977Samsung
Korea Semiconductor acquired
Samsung acquired Korea Semiconductor, a key step toward memory and component manufacturing leadership.
1993Adidas
Robert Louis-Dreyfus Becomes CEO
Robert Louis-Dreyfus became CEO and led a restructuring of Adidas.
1993Samsung
New Management initiative
Lee Kun-hee launched the New Management push to raise quality, design, and global competitiveness.
1995Adidas
Adidas Lists Publicly
Adidas completed its public listing in Frankfurt under Robert Louis-Dreyfus.
1997Adidas
Salomon Group Acquisition
Adidas acquired Salomon Group, adding winter sports equipment and TaylorMade golf.
2006Adidas
Reebok Acquisition Completed
Adidas completed its $3.8 billion acquisition of Reebok.
2017Samsung
Harman acquisition closes
Samsung completed the Harman acquisition, expanding into connected car systems and premium audio.
2021Adidas
Reebok Divestiture Agreement
Adidas agreed to sell Reebok to Authentic Brands Group for total consideration of up to $2.37 billion (EUR2.1 billion).
2022Adidas
Ye Partnership Terminated
Adidas terminated its partnership with Ye and stopped production of Yeezy branded products.
2022Samsung
Jong-Hee Han becomes CEO
Jong-Hee Han became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2022. A longtime TV business leader who helped keep Samsung the top global TV brand.
2023Adidas
Bjørn Gulden Becomes CEO
Bjørn Gulden became Adidas CEO on January 1, 2023.
2024Samsung
Jun Young-hyun becomes CEO
Jun Young-hyun became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2024. Head of the semiconductor (Device Solutions) division and memory business; sole CEO for part of 2025 after Han Jong-hee's death, then co-CEO with TM Roh from November 2025.
2025Adidas
Record 2025 Sales
Adidas reported sales of ~$28 billion (EUR24.811 billion) and attributable net income of ~$1.51 billion (EUR1.340 billion) for 2025.
2025Samsung
TM Roh joins Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO
Samsung named TM Roh Head of Device eXperience and CEO, joining Young Hyun Jun as co-CEO.
2025Samsung
Annual revenue reaches ~$237B (KRW 333.6T)
Samsung Electronics reported ~$237 billion (KRW 333.6 trillion) in 2025 annual revenue and ~$31 billion (KRW 43.6 trillion) in operating profit.
2025Samsung
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) becomes CEO
Roh Tae-moon (TM Roh) became CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. in 2025. Longtime head of the mobile business.
Acquisitions
Adidas
- Runtastic2015$240M
- Five Ten2011$25M
- Reebok2006$3.8B
- Salomon Group1997$1.4B
Samsung
- FlaktGroup2025$1.7B
- Xealth2025Undisclosed
- Harman International2017$8B
- SmartThings2014$200M
Questions about Adidas vs Samsung
Who is the CEO of Adidas AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG is led by Bjørn Gulden and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is led by Jun Young-hyun and Roh Tae-moon. Both serve as the top executive responsible for the company's strategy, operations, and financial performance.
When was Adidas AG founded vs Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG was founded in 1949 — 20 years before Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1969. Adidas AG's longer operating history gives it a deeper track record but also potentially more institutional inertia compared to the younger Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd..
How many employees does Adidas AG have compared to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG employs approximately 64,938 people, while Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. employs approximately 259,149. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has the larger workforce at 259,149 employees, compared to Adidas AG's 64,938. A higher headcount does not necessarily imply greater efficiency — it often reflects differences in business model (e.g., manufacturing vs. software).
Where are Adidas AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. headquartered?
Adidas AG is headquartered in Germany and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is headquartered in South Korea. Their different home markets mean they may face different regulatory frameworks, tax regimes, and currency exposure.
Who founded Adidas AG and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG was founded by Adolf Dassler. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. was founded by Lee Byung-chul.
Which company has a longer operating history — Adidas AG or Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.?
Adidas AG has been operating for approximately 77 years, making it the more established of the two companies. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has been in operation for around 57 years. A longer operating history often signals greater institutional resilience and brand recognition, though it can also mean slower adaptation to new market conditions.
Figures come from each company's filings and the sources linked beside them. Amounts reported in another currency are shown in US dollars at an approximate rate and marked with ~. Back to the Adidas vs Samsung overview