Under Armour CEO 'was having an affair with MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle (2024)

Under Armour employees are growing increasingly concerned about the relationship between their married CEO Kevin Plank and married MSNBC host Stephanie Ruhle, according to a new report.

The Wall Street Journal claims that employees have long suspected the two were having an affair, and that a romantic relationship did reveal itself in emails that were then brought to the attention of the company's board last year.

Plank, 46, was reportedly asked if any company funds had been spent on the affair, with Ruhle, 43, a frequent guest on his private jet, but he assured the members that any spend in his relationship with the television host had come out of his own pocket.

Employees do not know if that matter was ever investigated, and now claim that Ruhle has proven to have greater pull at the company than many employees and executives.

'Mr. Plank and Ms. Ruhle are friends,' said Kelley McCormick, Under Armour’s senior vice president of communications

MSNBC had no comment.

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Plank, who is worth $1.8 billion, has been married since 2003 toDesiree Jacqueline Guerzon.

Ruhle is married toAndy Hubbard, who is a co-CEO at the hedge fund HausMart.

'Ms. Ruhle has traveled with Mr. Plank and Under Armour staff on his private jet, they said, and given the CEO her input on a range of business matters,' reports The Journal.

'Ms. Ruhle’s involvement at the Baltimore company was unusual and problematic, these people said, and left employees unsure how to handle her feedback because many people believed she was romantically involved with Mr. Plank.'

This included Ruhle's emails being forwarded to people inside the company from Plank claims the report, and those ideas sometimes being implemented by the CEO.

Among the matters which Ruhle reportedly advised Plank on were the 2016 launch of the Chef Curry shoe and how he should interact with President Trump.

The latter led to much public backlash when Plank very publicly declared his support for the president, calling him an 'asset to the country.'

It was not just from the public either, with three of Under Armour's biggest spokespersons -Stephen Curry, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and Misty Copeland - distancing themselves from Plank while criticizing the president.

Plank would later write an open letter published as a full-page advertisem*nt in The Baltimore Sun to say that his comments did not 'accurately reflect my intent'.

He listed the values he says the company holds dear which included 'jobs creation, entrepreneurship and opportunity', but said it did not align itself with President Trump's travel ban.

'We are always mindful of the responsibility that we have to those who choose our Brand, especially the young people who represent the bold and bright future of a diverse and inclusive America,' read the letter.

'While we will continue to engage with government to protect our teammates, our company and our city, I can promise you that we will never compromise these values.'

He closed out the letter by stating: 'We will continue to stand for equality, diversity and opportunity for all. In a time of division, we aspire to be a force of unity, growth and optimism for our city and our country. I hope we will always make Baltimore proud.'

Some are hitting out after this news borke, with William Cohan writing: 'I have known @sruhle for 10 years. This is a total hit job and completely unfair. She loves her family more than anything. Where is the editorial control on suggesting innuendo without any evidence?'

Thomas Farley so defended Ruhle, saying he too has taken advice from her, and given advice to Plank.

Ruhle and Plank have both been silent since the story broke on Thursday, and it is unclear if this will impact their relationships.

Plank has a vast fortune and massive real estate portfolio that could be broken up should he and his wife split.

He is worth $1.8 billion and owns a hotel, tavern, racetrack and even a distillery in Maryland.

Plank is also currentlybuilding a 4 million-square-foot headquarters for Under Armour in Baltimore as part of the redevelopment of the city's Port Covington neighborhood.

He had also been at work building a35,000-square-foot estate for his family, but work suddenly stopped on the property last October.