Chip Molloy

“It’s like flying a plane while learning how to fly the plane,” Lawrence “Chip” Molloy (MBA ’95) said of his then-new role as Under Armour’s chief financial officer. The former Navy fighter pilot knows a thing or two about how to fly under pressure, and he is taking it all in stride.

“I’m learning the sportswear business as fast as I can,” said Molloy, who previously worked as the CFO of PetSmart from 2007–13. In 2011, he was named Institutional Investors’ CFO of the Year for Specialty Retail. “I listen to my new team so I can understand their needs, and I’m working hard to establish relationships with my peers.”

Raised by a single mom, Molloy attended the “blue-collar Catholic school of Baltimore,” Mount Saint Joseph High School, where his passion for wrestling earned him a spot at the U.S. Naval Academy. The Navy ultimately financed his University of Virginia Darden School of Business education.

Molloy’s listening skills and his innate curiosity have been instrumental as he’s advanced his career. After working at Deloitte and Capital One, he joined Circuit City, where he catapulted into the C-Suite as the CFO of retail after only two years with the company.

Remaining acutely attuned to his moral compass has also been a key. “When you’re a service person, integrity is part of your DNA,” he said. After 10 years in the Navy, Molloy entered the business world and was surprised by the lack of authenticity he witnessed.

“I need to be able to look in the mirror at the end of the day and feel like I did the right thing,” said Molloy. “If someone doesn’t want to employ me because I’m telling the truth, then that’s not where I want to work.”

He quickly knew Under Armour would be a great fit for a myriad of reasons. “The brand has a ton of momentum around it, and Kevin [Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour] is an intoxicating human being,” said Molloy, who is delighted to be back in his hometown of Baltimore. “I also appreciate how Kevin is changing the landscape of the city in a positive way.”