Decathlon UK & Ireland Unite Under New Leadership to Drive Growth

Decathlon, the French sports retail giant, has unveiled a significant restructuring of its leadership for the UK and Irish markets, consolidating operations under a single team. Elena Pecos, who already serves as CEO of Decathlon Ireland, will now expand her leadership to encompass the UK as well. Simultaneously, Romain Gravigny has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the unified UK & Ireland region, marking a strategic move to streamline management and enhance regional synergy.

Elena Pecos steps into her expanded role, succeeding Eric Mazillier, which signifies a pivotal new chapter for Decathlon in these territories. Pecos brings a rich background spanning both retail and finance, having joined Decathlon in Spain in 2006. Her career trajectory within the company includes diverse roles such as store management, finance leadership in Spain and France, and international CFO positions in Chile and within the Circular Economy team, before assuming the top leadership position in Ireland in 2023.

Romain Gravigny joins the UK & Ireland leadership team with over two decades of experience at Decathlon. His extensive tenure includes leading store networks and operations across multiple markets, most recently serving as CEO of Decathlon Australia. In his new capacity as UK & Ireland COO, Gravigny will be instrumental in driving operational excellence, enhancing customer experience, and fostering growth across both markets, leveraging his deep understanding of retail dynamics and operational efficiency.

These leadership changes arrive during a period of considerable momentum and strategic investment for Decathlon in both the UK and Ireland. The UK business, in particular, saw a year of significant transformation, including the modernisation of 15 flagship stores in 2024, the launch of an advanced e-commerce platform, and the completion of a warehouse automation project. These initiatives are already yielding positive results, with turnover across all sales channels in the UK increasing by 15% in the first half of 2025.

Ireland has also demonstrated strong performance, with turnover growing by 20% in H1, complemented by the modernisation of a flagship store. Decathlon's commitment to its employees and sustainability is evident across both regions. Employee engagement scores in the UK rose to 92% in 2024, alongside the delivery of over 110,000 circular services such as repairs, refurbishments, and buybacks. In Ireland, employee engagement reached 86%, circular economy growth surged by 85%, and the business deepened community ties through new partnerships with Padel LK in Limerick and Na Fianna CLG in Dublin. Decathlon Ireland also harnessed strong cultural momentum, with its TikTok videos garnering more than 900,000 views.

The combined UK and Irish businesses are an integral part of Decathlon's global operations, which reported a €16.2 billion turnover last year and operates 1,815 stores worldwide. Decathlon UK & Ireland collectively manages 45 stores, alongside logistics and support functions, and projects a combined turnover of €460 million for 2025, underscoring the region's importance to the global enterprise.