In a big shakeup at Adidas, Jon Wexler has announced he’s stepping down as head of the company’s Yeezy brand, which is owned by Kanye West. Wexler made the move to manage the Yeezy brand in December 2019.
High-profile and known for his gregarious personality, Wexler’s biggest talent was his skill as a talent whisperer, which he used to help the brand establish initiatives with West, as well as Pharrell Williams and Beyoncé.
Wexler didn’t say why he chose to leave Adidas, though our sources say the move was entirely voluntary. As well, he won’t be joining any brands directly competing with Adidas.
In a statement on his departure on Instagram, Wexler wrote, “My (combined) 18 years at /// have been the heart of my career. As my role at adidas evolved, I tried to help the brand grow via innovative partnerships and transformative collaborations with the world’s most prolific creatives.”
“From the people who gave me my first opportunity here, to all of the incredible people I’ve had the pleasure of working with along the way, there are too many of you to thank – but know that I am deeply grateful for every one of you. I leave the brand with nothing but ❤️ for adidas and the entire extended adidas family. Very excited for what the next chapter will bring!”
Wexler first joined Adidas in 2000. He went to work for Converse in 2004, but two years later was back as a brand manager at Adidas. Prior to taking on a role at Yeezy, Wexler was Adidas’ director of global entertainment and influencer marketing.
While demand for Yeezy remains high, it’s been a more tumultuous than usual summer for brand owner Kanye West. In addition to issuing a series of controversial statements on Twitter, he also launched a presidential campaign.
West has struggled to keep up with various state requirements for having his name added to ballots and even when he has met deadlines, his efforts have been marred by charges of fraud and receiving assistance from Republican operatives who view West as helping drain votes from Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
As Wexler announces his departure, Adidas has let if be known that creative director Paul Gaudio is out from his position following a controversial statement on Instagram.
