Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank announced Monday he was stepping down from the Trump administration’s American Manufacturing Council to focus on “inspiring and uniting” people through the power of sport, becoming the second CEO to leave the council in a day.
“I joined the American Manufacturing Council because I believed it was important for Under Armour to have an active seat at the table and represent our industry,” Plank said in a statement released on Twitter. “However, Under Armour engages in innovation and sports, not politics.”
Plank’s announcement follows a turbulent day for President Trump’s corporate outreach strategy, with Kenneth Frazier, CEO of Merck, a large American pharmaceutical company, also leaving the council in the fallout of the violence in Charlottesville at the weekend.
Frazier believed Trump didn’t come down hard enough on white supremacists in his statements following the attack. Trump then fired back at Frazier in a series of tweets, criticizing him for not lowering drug prices.
Earlier this year, Plank’s footwear, sports and casual apparel manufacturing business faced customer boycotts and shareholder backlash after he made positive comments about Trump’s presidency shortly after his inauguration.
Plank on Monday said he was appreciative of the opportunity to have served the country by promoting business.
“I love our country and our company and will continue to focus my efforts on inspiring every person that they can do anything through the power of sport which promotes unity, diversity and inclusion,” Plank said.
I love our country & company. I am stepping down from the council to focus on inspiring & uniting through power of sport. – CEO Kevin Plank pic.twitter.com/8YvndJMjj1
— Under Armour (@UnderArmour) August 15, 2017
