Simon Pestridge

With a conviction that the most durable brands are built from the ground up, Simon Pestridge joins the Power List for 2026 for the first time leading Under Armour as SVP and managing director, APAC.

Based in Shanghai, Pestridge is working to strengthen Under Armour's cultural relevance in the region through targeted campaigns. One recent initiative, 'I Run, But I'm Not a Runner', aimed to make running feel more accessible by welcoming everyday people such as commuters and dog walkers, rather than focusing solely on competitive athletes. The campaign was tied to the UA HALO shoe collection and rolled out across Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.

Over the past year, Pestridge has focused heavily on elevating regional sports infrastructure and athletic inclusion through structural partnerships. In late 2025, he secured a major multi-year alliance with the East Asia Super League (EASL) as its core performance apparel partner, while co-developing the EASL Future Champions youth program to create elite development pathways for young basketball players. 

Concurrently, he established a long-term partnership with the Chinese Rugby Football Association (CRFA) as the official outfitter of the National Flag Football and Men's 7s Rugby teams. This initiative drives grassroots inclusion by introducing structured school tournament series from primary levels through university, ahead of flag football's 2028 Olympic debut.

Further building the brand's presence in emerging subcultures, Pestridge has overseen partnerships with the Asian University Basketball League and signed Jacob Zhu as Curry Brand's first Chinese athlete. NFL star Justin Jefferson also visited Shanghai and Wuhan for the 'This Is Flag Football' campaign, which featured youth clinics and community training camps.

Retail is part of the brand's expansion strategy. Under Armour opened its first Smart Sports House in Guangzhou at Julongwan Taikoo Li, featuring AI-assisted service, weekly athlete programming, and exclusive product drops. APAC has shown growth momentum in recent quarters.

Pestridge first joined Under Armour in November 2024 as VP, Marketing APAC, and was promoted to SVP, MD APAC in August 2025. Before Under Armour, he spent 23 years at Nike, rising to vice president with roles across the UK, Ireland, and Greater China. He later worked as CXO of Potato Head Family in Bali, a hospitality and lifestyle brand with venues in Indonesia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.