Dr. Martens
Recently, the British footwear brand Dr. Martens announced that its current CEO, Kenny Wilson, will resign at the end of this year. Ije Nwokorie, the current Chief Brand Officer, will succeed Kenny Wilson as CEO. To ensure a smooth transition, Kenny Wilson and Ije Nwokorie will work together, with the latter officially taking office before the end of this fiscal year.
Paul Maison, the chairman of Dr. Martens, stated that Kenny Wilson’s contributions to the company have been significant, and he is confident in ensuring a smooth transition. “Kenny Wilson was the first to implement a brand-priority, DTC-driven strategy, which achieved significant growth. During his tenure, sales more than doubled. Additionally, he focused on product, brand, and regulatory responsibilities, instilling a strong culture in our organization.”
Kenny Wilson (left) and Ije Nwokorie (right)
Regarding his successor, Ije Nwokorie, who joined Dr. Martens from Apple, helped drive the company’s DTC-led growth. Lynne Weedal, the senior independent director and chair of the nomination committee, stated, “Ije Nwokorie’s experience will be highly relevant to Dr. Martens in the coming years. He is an inspiring leader who has developed a deep understanding of the company during his three-year tenure as a non-executive director. Since he took over as Chief Commercial Officer in February, we have greatly benefited from his brand expertise. We are delighted that he will be our next CEO.”
Birkenstock
Recently, the German century-old footwear brand Birkenstock appointed Megan Kulick as the Director of Investor Relations at Birkenstock, effective April 15, 2024. In this position, Megan Kulick will be based in New York and report to the company’s board.
Megan Kulick
Oliver Reichert, CEO and board member of Birkenstock Group, stated, “It is extremely important for us to fill this vacancy with a professional in investor relations. Megan Kulick not only enjoys a high reputation in the market but also possesses excellent professional expertise. We believe she can communicate our message in the most credible and effective way.”
Megan Kulick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School. She has over 20 years of international financial industry experience in top US banks and large public companies, covering investor relations, equity research, and portfolio management. Recently, she also led investor relations at Cresco Labs. Previously, she held several senior positions, including Director of Investor Relations at AYR Wellness Inc., Senior Vice President at PIMCO, Director at Merrill Lynch, and Vice President at J.P. Morgan. Earlier in her career, Megan Kulick started at Merrill Lynch Securities, focusing on equity research in the telecommunications sector.
Crocs
Recently, the American casual footwear group Crocs appointed 56-year-old Terence Reilly as Executive Vice President and President of its Italian footwear brand HEYDUDE, replacing the departing Rick Blackshaw.
Terence Reilly will join the executive leadership team on April 29. In this position, he will report directly to CEO Andrew Rees.
Terence Reilly graduated from Reed College with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and has over 25 years of global marketing and operations experience. His most recent position was President of the centennial drinkware brand Stanley, where he has held senior positions since 2020, leading and driving the successful revival of this old-brand drinkware into a popular “star” today. Before joining Stanley, from 2013 to 2020, Terence Reilly served as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President at Crocs, Inc. Prior to 2013, he held other senior marketing and leadership positions.
Terence Reilly
Andrew Rees, CEO of Crocs, Inc., stated, “We are very excited to welcome Terence back to the Crocs, Inc. family. Terence has been tremendously successful in his work for both Stanley and Crocs, leveraging iconic products, expanding brand recognition, driving brand relevance, and ultimately building a community. I have previously worked with him, and I believe he is the right person to lead the HEYDUDE brand into the next phase of growth.”
Andrew Rees also expressed his gratitude to the predecessor, Rick Blackshaw: “Over the past two years, Rick has played a key role in building and professionalizing the HEYDUDE team and expanding the brand’s domestic scale. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
| Source: Respective brand’s official website, executives’ LinkedIn profiles, Retail Dive
| Image Credit: Respective brand’s official website, executives’ LinkedIn profiles
| Editor: LeZhi
