LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - Sports retailer Decathlon

reported stronger sales growth for 2024 on Monday and said its

brand-focused transformation would continue this year, after the

company named a new chief executive last Thursday.

The privately-owned company appointed 25-year company

veteran Javier Lopez as CEO, taking over from Barbara Martin

Coppola who led the company for three years.

Known for big-box stores that sell everything from tents and

bicycles to running shoes, Decathlon launched a new strategy

last year and invested in marketing as it aims to make its own

brands such as Quechua and Kiprun compete better against Nike ( NKE ),

Adidas, and others.

Revenues in 2024 were up 5.2% at constant exchange rates to

16.2 billion euros ($17.50 billion), Decathlon reported on

Monday, stronger growth than 4.4% in 2023.

Decathlon had 68 more stores worldwide in 2024, for a total

of 1,817 stores in 79 countries.

($1 = 0.9255 euros)