Position: LB/RB More bio, uniform, draft info. “Brand is not a product that’s for sure; it’s not one item. He explained to them that his T-shirt would help them to improve their performance largely on the football field. [57] Johnson called Plank's words "divisive". [16] He also attempted to name his company Body Armor, but efforts to trademark that name were also unsuccessful. [10], However, he went to University of Maryland, College Park and walked onto the team there. Plank spent hours in one-on-one conversations to try and persuade those employees. Kevin Plank, the sportswear company’s founder, sold the Georgetown pied-a-terre after lowering the price from $29.5 million. Plank plays a crucial role in development of Maryland University’s Dingman Center & donates a huge amount to help the department in investing in potential start-ups. [59] Additionally, he publicly opposed President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord[60] and was among the Fortune 500 CEOs to sign a pledge to promote workplace diversity and inclusion. Under Armour chief executive Kevin Plank — who got rocked last year by reports that he had presided over a frat-house culture at the athletic wear giant — will step down from the role next year. [3][4] His father was a prominent Maryland land developer. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank – who founded the company and grew it into a major force in the sports apparel industry only to see it stumble as it … On branding. [45], Plank is also active within the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., communities, as a member of the Greater Baltimore Committee[46] and Greater Washington Partnership. 4 on America's 20 Most Powerful CEOs 40 and Under, This page was last edited on 14 January 2021, at 21:00. Under Armour backs V Foundation & Power in Pink breast cancer education campaign. Under Armour founder Kevin Plank resorted to “sales tricks” and improper accounting to attain unrealistic sales goals as the brand’s popularity faded, shareholders allege in … [40], Plank renovated the former Recreation Pier building in Fells Point, Baltimore. [13], While at University of Maryland, Plank launched Cupid's Valentine, a seasonal business selling roses on Valentine's Day. [34] There are about 100 horses on Sagamore farm, with about 40 actively training as of July 2017. [47] He is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Living Classrooms, a Baltimore-Washington based non-profit organization dedicated to the hands-on education of young people using urban, natural and maritime environments as “living classrooms". [9], Plank originally sought to call his new sportswear company Heart, but he could not trademark it. Interestingly, the idea of Under Armour emerged out of need  for Plank. [56] Plank's comments drew criticism on social media. [19] The ad resulted in $1 million in direct sales for the following year, and athletes and teams began buying the product. [61], "Kevin Plank donates $1 million to Baltimore Catholic schools", "How Kevin Plank turned a single idea into a global brand", "2003 Businessperson of the year: The man behind the 'armour, "Under Armour founder gives $16 million to St. John's College High", "How the founder of Under Armour went from getting kicked out of high school to running a $22 billion company", "From rags to microfiber: inside the rapid rise of Under Armour", "WWE's Darren Drozdov thrives 15 years after being paralyzed during match", "Five finalists chosen for Kevin Plank's Cupid's Cup competition", "Taking on the giants: How Under Armour founder Kevin Plank is going head-to-head with the industry's biggest players", "Kevin Plank is betting almost $1 billion that Under Armour can beat Nike", "20 things you didn't know about Under Armour", "Under Armour founder breaks into billionaires club", "Under Armour acquires weight loss app, MyFitnessPal, for $475 million dollars", "Under Armour Buys Apps in Bid to Become Top Fitness Tracker", "Kevin Plank Is Betting Almost $1 Billion That Under Armour Can Beat Nike", "Under Armour exits yet another school sponsorship deal as part of big shrink". [32] Plank has said he seeks to restore the farm and rejuvenate Maryland's horse racing tradition by raising a Triple Crown winning horse. In addition to sitting on the University's Board of Trustees, he played an integral role in the development of an endowment fund that the Dingman Center uses to invest in viable startup businesses. [51], In November 2014, Plank pledged $25 million to the University of Maryland to be used for the proposed athletics and academic complex. Mr. Plank started the activewear company in 1996 in his grandmother’s basement. Kevin A. Plank (born August 13, 1972) is an American billionaire businessman and philanthropist. [14], The idea that led to Under Armour was sparked while playing for the Maryland Terrapins, Plank said he was the "sweatiest guy on the football field". Under Armour founder Kevin Plank announced a $16 million gift to his alma mater, St. John’s College High School, Friday night at a gala for alumni of … Plank always had his entrepreneurial instincts even before he launched Under Armour. [16], Plank initially ran the business from his grandmother's townhouse in Georgetown. School: Maryland. He’s had a heck of a run, and his story is well know in entrepreneurial circles: Chapter 1: Walks on to the football team at the University of Maryland in the early 1990s. www.TheCoupMedia.com [58], Plank sat on the President Trump's American Manufacturing Council. With that preamble, let’s talk about Kevin Plank, the self-made billionaire and founder of Under Armour. 6 on 50 Most Influential People in Sports by, No. His extensive search covered 7 prototypes till he found his ideal match. [2], Plank married Desiree Guerzon, in 2003. [3][6] He left the prestigious Georgetown Preparatory School, a Catholic school, due to poor academic performance and behavioral issues,[7][8] then went on to graduate from another Catholic school, St. John's College High School, in 1990. Patrik Frisk, Under Armour’s current President … It’s an idea, it’s a theory, it’s a … [9][10] He was not recruited by the top-tier collegiate football programs. One of them was Cupid’s Valentine which roses on Valentine’s Day & earned the young lad around $17,000. Plank has recently purchased fitness, health & calorie counting apps and has this goal to come up with the best online health platform in the world – that would rival Apple, Google, Fitbit & Jawbone. Patrik Frisk, President, and Chief Operating Officer. About Kevin Plank Kevin Plank, born in Kensington, Maryland in 1972, is the founder and former CEO of Under Armour, a clothing manufacturer of footwear, sportswear and related accessories. 2011 Kevin Plank Overview; More Kevin Plank Pages; Rushing & Receiving * indicates bowl stats included; Rushing & Receiving Table; Rushing Receiving Scrimmage; Year School Conf Class Pos … Plank, a Roman Catholic,[2] grew up in Kensington, Maryland, a suburb of Washington D.C., the youngest of five brothers born to William and Jayne (née Harper) Plank. [41] The limestone aquifer on Plank's farm produced water fit to distill whiskey,[18] so Plank and business partner Bill McDermond founded Sagamore Spirit to restore Maryland's whiskey distilling tradition. [3] They have two children,[3] and live in Lutherville, Maryland. The most important highlight of Plank’s career was surely the 1999 $25,000 ad in ESPN The Magazine that made his product a must-have for players & teams, amassing 1million USD direct sales. [48] Through his Cupid Foundation, Plank donated $5 million to help create the UA House at Fayette, an East Baltimore community center run by Living Classrooms. 26 on Power 100 Most Influential Designers, Influencers and Leaders in the Shoe Industry by, No. Following a 1999 in-ring accident which left Drozdov quadriplegic, Plank personally financed his customized wheelchair. He attended the University of Maryland, College Park and graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in hand. Under Armour’s origin story is nearly folklore at this point: in 1996, the brand’s founder Kevin Plank invented a sweat-wicking shirt in his grandma’s basement. [37] The company had acquired approximately 235 acres in the area[36] and planned to build a mix of offices, residential areas, retail space, parks, boat launches and more. But Under Armour, a bright idea hatched during … Kevin Plank is an eminent American entrepreneur, founder & CEO of famous sports apparel brand Under Armour. Then, he asked his erstwhile teammates to check out his formula. [5], Plank grew up playing youth football with the Maplewood Sports Association; a Maplewood team has appeared in Under Armour commercials. [42] Following Plank's renovation, the building reopened as the Sagamore Pendry Hotel. The strategy was a success, earning the company the world's largest digital health-and-fitness community, with 150 million users. This mini-documentary details how Under Armour evolved from a t-shirt company to a tech company. Plank is the founder and executive chairman of Under Armour, a manufacturer of sportswear, footwear and accessories, based in Baltimore, Maryland. [20], Between 2014 and 2016, Under Armour spent close to $1 billion to acquire makers of activity- and diet-tracking mobile apps. During his university days, he came up with several small businesses and used the funding to capitalize his flagship sportswear project later on. [15] After graduating from Maryland, Plank searched for synthetic materials that would keep athletes dry. ... Kevin Plank marked the occasion by signing the box that made the milestone. [17] He also asked his former teammates to try on the shirts, claiming that his alternative to a cotton T-shirt would enhance their performance on the field. [49], Plank has been a long-time supporter of the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business and Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship. Kevin Plank and his wife bought the 65-acre Greenspring Valley Road property for $2.8 million using limited liability company Three Diamond Land … [55] On CNBC's Halftime Report in February 2017, Plank commented on Donald Trump's pro-business philosophy, saying the president was a "real asset" to the business community. [7][9] Afterward, he played football at Fork Union Military Academy for a year, trying to get the attention of NCAA Division I schools. [30] The property was once owned by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. [54], According to the Federal Election Commission, Plank has donated to both major U.S. political parties and to individuals of both parties. He was the sweatiest person on the soccer field & he was desperately looking for an alternative that would keep him comfortable and dry while playing- which was not being possible with his usual sweat-soaked cotton shirts. [38][39], Plank also founded the whiskey distillery Sagamore Spirit in 2013. [12], His roommate at Maryland was football player and professional wrestler Darren Drozdov. In the ad, Plank said Under Armour stood for job creation, but publicly opposed the president's proposed travel ban. [27][28], Plank is a member of the board of trustees for the National Football Foundation. He attended Georgetown Preparatory School, Fork Union Military Academy, St. John’s College High School & University of Maryland. Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank had a close relationship with MSNBC anchor Stephanie Ruhle that some deemed to be “problematic,” The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. He was listed at #3 on the Forbes’ lists of “Annual 40 under 40” & “America’s 20 Most Powerful CEOs 40 and Under. Kevin A Plank is Chairman/Chief Brand Ofcr/Founder at Under Armour Inc. See Kevin A Plank's compensation, career history, education, & memberships. Kevin Plank's unremarkable career as a college football player hardly ranks him with the greats of the gridiron. He will be replaced by current chief operating officer … Kevin Plank. Under Armour Founder Kevin Plank to Step Down as C.E.O. Kevin Plank is the founder, chairman and former CEO at Under Armour, one of the most successful sportswear companies in the world. He stepped down from the council following President Trump's comments on violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying Under Armour "engages in innovation and sports, not politics". Plank is the founder and executive chairman of Under Armour, a manufacturer of sportswear, footwear and accessories, based in Baltimore, Maryland. From product launches and ground-breaking campaigns to key partnerships and big bets that propelled the Brand forward, these are the moments that made us who we are. Kevin Plank is an eminent American entrepreneur, founder & CEO of famous sports apparel brand Under Armour. He will … KEVIN PLANK: When I started, I used to carry two business cards with me. Everyone knows the story. [40] He was initially approached about creating a vineyard, but being a whiskey enthusiast he asked his business partner to research whiskey. As some customers vowed to boycott the brand, three major endorsers—Stephen Curry, ballerina Misty Copeland, and actor Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson—went on Twitter to express their opposition. The story begins with Kevin Plank, Under Armour's founder and CEO. Inman Connect 2021 Events Announced! He also requested his friends to pass on his t shirt to the other players and this was how Plank’s t shirts gradually started garnering popularity. Cupid's Valentine earned $3,000, which Plank used as seed money for Under Armour. [31] The farm was the home to stallion Native Dancer, who went 21 for 22 during his racing career from 1952 to 1954. Our story. Kevin Plank With Michael Phelps. As his friends moved on to play professionally, he would send them T-shirts, requesting that they pass them out to other players in their locker rooms. Under Armour’s revenues passed the 1 billion dollar mark in 2010. [40] Its first bottles were sold at stores in 2016. His first big team sale was to Georgia Tech. [10] He graduated in 1996[3][11] with a bachelor's degree in business administration. His company is the second largest sportswear vendor in the whole of America, picking up sales of around 3.8 billion USD this year. [21][22][23] Many long-term employees questioned Plank's strategy and whether the company would produce a return on their investment. [52] In 2015, Plank pledged $16 million to St. John's College High School in Washington, DC, to fund athletics, academics and entrepreneurship initiatives. His former home, when he put it up for sale, was the most expensive home on the market in Washington, DC. 23 on 50 Most Influential People in Sports by, No. "Under Armour CEO and founder Kevin Plank stepping down, replaced by COO Patrik Frisk"; Courtney Regan; "Under Armour founder Kevin Plank is stepping down as CEO", "Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank embarks on megamansion in Baltimore County", "Sagamore Farm history comes alive with visit from a Vanderbilt", "Kevin Plank, founder of Under Armour, enters horse in Preakness", "50 things to do or see in Maryland sports: Visit Native Dancer's grave at Sagamore Farm", "In Baltimore, Under Armour's owner invests in a $5.5 billion bet on his city", "Remaking Baltimore's waterfront, with a splash of whiskey", "Plank's Sagamore Development plans start-up hub in Port Covington", "Sagamore Spirit debuts its distillery in Port Covington", "Under Armour's Kevin Plank enters the whiskey wars", "Historic Recreation Pier reopens as Sagamore Pendry Hotel", "Sagamore unveils first new Baltimore water taxi, a historic Chesapeake throwback", "Kevin Plank donates $1 million to Baltimore's CollegeBound Foundation", "Kevin Plank's foundation funds summer jobs for Cherry Hill students", "Greater Baltimore Committee backs Port Covington TIF", "Transportation workforce development to be top priorities for Greater Washington Partnership", "Kevin Plank, Living Classrooms Foundation unveil UA House in East Baltimore", "Under Armour re-imagines a community center in East Baltimore", "Kevin Plank's Cupid's Cup picks College Park startup for top prize", "Plank giving $25 million for UM athletic, academic project", "Under Armour's Kevin Plank gives $16 million to high school alma mater", "The Most Expensive House in Washington D.C. is Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank's Georgetown Mansion", "Search Campaign Finance Data by Individual Contributor", "Kevin Plank praises Trump as 'passionate' and pro-business", "Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank responds to Trump tempest with letter to Baltimore", "Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank clarifies Trump comments in Baltimore Sun ad", "Under Armour CEO adds his name to those leaving Trump's manufacturing council", "Under Armour's Kevin Plank rips decision to exit Paris climate agreement", "Joe Sullivan, Kevin Plank among 150 CEOs pledging to improve workplace diversity and inclusion, something that President Trump already fully endorses", "2016 Success Achiever of the Year: Kevin Plank", "Hudl founders named to Fast Company list", "Kevin Plank inducted into Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame", "2016 Most Influential in Sports LIst–Brian France #23", "Power 100: The Most Influential Designers, Influencers and Leaders in the Shoe Industry", "SN ranks the 50 most influential people in sports", "Adweek's Power List 2016: The top 100 leaders in marketing, media and tech", "Here's how Kevin Plank says business owners can create a global brand", "50 Most Influential: No. Synopsis. 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