Jack Wolfskin
German outdoor specialist brand Jack Wolfskin has announced the departure of its CEO Matthew Jung.
Jung joined the brand in 2022, initially serving as General Manager for the China market, before being promoted to CEO in 2024. Prior to that, he held several management positions at Nike, including serving as General Manager for the Asia region at Converse.
This leadership change comes as Chinese sportswear giant ANTA Group (02020.HK) completes its acquisition of Jack Wolfskin. Going forward, the current management team will continue to ensure smooth business operations, and the executive reshuffle will not result in further structural changes.
Nike
American sportswear giant Nike has announced several senior leadership changes:
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Longtime design executive and Chief Innovation Officer John Hoke has announced his retirement;
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Michael Gonda has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, effective July 7.
Above: John Hoke, Michael Gonda
John Hoke has been with Nike for over 30 years and will remain with the company through October to complete key projects. A trained architect, Hoke joined Nike in 1992 and initially worked on store and fixture design before transitioning to footwear. He served as Chief Design Officer for 15 years, leading a global team of over 1,000 employees, and was appointed Head of Innovation in 2023.
Michael Gonda, upon taking on his new role, will lead Nike’s global communications organization, overseeing all aspects of communications strategy, including brand storytelling, corporate and brand reputation, issues management, and employee engagement. As a member of the company’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT), he will report directly to President and CEO Elliott Hill.
Before joining Nike, Gonda held several senior leadership roles at McDonald’s, including Chief Impact Officer for North America, responsible for communications, public affairs, sustainability, community engagement, and philanthropy in the company’s largest market, as well as Global Chief Communications Officer. He previously held executive roles at Chobani and Weber Shandwick.
Dr. Martens
British footwear brand Dr. Martens Limited has appointed Carla Murphy as Chief Brand Officer.
Based in London, Murphy will lead the global team to drive brand strategy, vision, and creative direction. She will also oversee global product, strategy, marketing, and sustainability divisions, reporting to CEO Ije Nwokorie.
Murphy brings more than 20 years of brand-building and corporate management experience across industries, channels, and categories, including lifestyle and high-performance footwear and apparel. She previously worked at German sportswear giant adidas, where she served as Senior Vice President/General Manager of Outdoor, responsible for end-to-end strategy, management, and global execution for the outdoor category, including the adidas Terrex and Five Ten brands.
Murphy also served as Global Chief Brand and Product Officer at VF Corporation-owned Icebreaker and held senior brand and product roles across several Amer Sports brands. Earlier in her career, she led a multidisciplinary global brand consultancy.
Kizik
U.S.-based hands-free footwear company Kizik has appointed Gareth Hosford as CEO, effective immediately.
Hosford succeeds Monte Deere, who will remain on the boards of Kizik and its parent company, HandsFree Labs, providing advisory support for the company’s licensing business.
As CEO, Hosford will focus on driving innovation, expanding global reach, and identifying new licensing opportunities through HandsFree Labs’ robust intellectual property portfolio.
Prior to joining Kizik, Hosford was Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Head of Partnerships at high-performance apparel startup Omorpho since 2021. Before that, he spent nearly three years as Chief Commercial Officer at Converse.
Hosford spent the majority of his career at Nike, where he held various roles over 12 years, including Vice President and General Manager for the UK and Ireland, General Manager for Football in the UK and Ireland, and Global Director of Clubs and Federations for the Football division. Earlier in his career, he also worked at McKinsey and Procter & Gamble.
Equinox
Luxury fitness club chain Equinox has appointed Bindu Shah as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Digital Officer.
In her new role, Shah will lead the development and execution of Equinox’s brand marketing and digital strategies, focusing on enhancing brand awareness, member acquisition, and retention through integrated experiences. She will join the company’s executive leadership team and report to Equinox President Marc Mastronardi.
Most recently, Shah served as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief Digital Officer at Tory Burch. Before that, she spent four and a half years at Sephora as Vice President of Digital Marketing and Media. She has also held positions at Gilt Groupe and McGraw-Hill Higher Education. Shah holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Mathematics from Barnard College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
| Source: Official press releases, SGB Media, Bloomberg, Fashion Network
| Image Credit: Company websites, personal social media accounts
| Editor: LeZhi
