Cover Story -- The Best Managers

ROBERT LOUIS-DREYFUS

CEO ROBERT LOUIS-DREYFUS, 51, wears sneakers and jeans to work, but there's nothing laid back about the rebound he has led at Adidas. By moving production out of high-cost Germany and boosting marketing, '97 earnings should grow 40%, to $250 million, on expected sales of $3.7 billion. And with the recent buy of equipment maker Salomon, Adidas will be second only to Nike. Now, Adidas is taking on the Swoosh boys on their U.S. home turf.