Sports company PUMA has appointed Dr. Martin Benda (49) as General Counsel (Global Director Legal Affairs) with immediate effect. In this position, Martin Benda will report directly to PUMA CFO Michael Laemmermann.

After finishing his PhD in industrial law at the Georg-August University in Göttingen, Martin started his professional career as Legal Counsel at Mannesmann Mobilfunk (now Vodafone). In 2001, Martin joined The Coca-Cola Company, where he gathered extensive experience and knowledge in positions as Legal Director GB & Ireland and Senior Legal Counsel Central & Eastern Europe.

The trained lawyer has a comprehensive expertise in competition-, trademark-, marketing-, employment- and property law.

Martin Benda succeeds Jochen Lederhilger, who served in this role since 2006. Lederhilger has decided to leave the company after 20 years to pursue his career as a self-employed lawyer.