Levi Strauss / Levi’s
Recently, American denim manufacturer Levi Strauss announced a series of management changes aimed at accelerating the brand’s transition to an omnichannel retail model.
Chief Product Officer Karyn Hillman’s responsibilities have been expanded beyond design to include marketing. Currently, Hillman oversees Levi’s product and brand vision, priorities, and roadmap. Jason Gowans‘ role has also been expanded, and he now serves as the company’s Chief Digital and Technology Officer. Harmit Singh, in addition to his role as Chief Financial and Growth Officer, will now oversee the company’s transformation initiatives to accelerate structural economic improvements.
Above: Karyn Hillman
Chief Commercial Officer Gianluca Flore has also expanded his responsibilities to include licensing and planning, which will drive coordination between sales and inventory, strategic assortment planning, and inventory accountability. Bernard Bedon has been appointed as Chief Human Resources Officer, effective March 3, reporting to CEO Michelle Gass and joining the company’s executive leadership team. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Liz O’Neill, who has been with Levi Strauss for nearly 12 years, has announced her retirement.
adidas
German sportswear brand adidas has announced the departure of Eric Wise, Global General Manager of its basketball division.
Eric Wise joined adidas in 2016 as Director of Merchandising at Foot, Inc. Over the next five years, he held multiple positions, eventually rising to Global Vice President of Product at adidas, working at the company’s Portland, Oregon headquarters. In March 2021, he relocated to Los Angeles to lead adidas’ basketball business as Global General Manager.
adidas’ basketball division in Los Angeles was originally led by Jerry Lorenzo, founder of the streetwear brand Fear of God, who was responsible for creative direction and global business strategy.
Before joining adidas, Eric Wise worked at Villa, a specialty urban retailer based in Philadelphia, which has since been acquired by JD Sports Group.
Dr. Martens
British footwear brand Dr. Martens has announced the appointment of Robert Hanson and Benoit Vauchy as non-executive directors to enhance the board’s expertise and help reverse the brand’s performance in the U.S. market under new CEO Ije Nwokorie. The appointments will take effect on March 26.
Robert Hanson previously served as CEO of luxury handcrafted jewelry brand John Hardy and American denim brand American Eagle Outfitters, bringing extensive experience in the North American market.
Above: Robert Hanson (left) and Benoit Vauchy (right)
Benoit Vauchy is a partner at British private equity firm Permira Advisers, which holds approximately 38.4% of shares in the large European private equity fund Permira. Vauchy has been with Permira since 2006 and previously worked at J.P. Morgan in London and Frankfurt for six years.
Dr. Martens has been facing challenges in the U.S. market and is striving to turn around its performance. On January 27, the brand reported that revenue in North America grew 2% at constant exchange rates in the third quarter of fiscal 2025 (ending December 29). However, revenue for the first three quarters of the fiscal year declined 12%.
Wolverine Worldwide
U.S. multi-brand footwear group Wolverine World Wide, Inc. has appointed Brett Parent as Chief Strategy Officer, effective February 3. He will continue to report directly to Chris Hufnagel, President and CEO of Wolverine Worldwide, and remain a member of the company’s executive leadership team.
In this newly created role, Brett Parent will be responsible for developing and driving the company’s corporate strategy, evaluating growth opportunities for its brand portfolio across 170 countries and regions worldwide. In addition to leading the strategy function and team, he will also oversee the company’s consumer marketing team, supporting enterprise-wide e-commerce growth initiatives.
Brett Parent joined Wolverine Worldwide nearly two decades ago in the company’s direct-to-consumer division and has since held various leadership roles in both brand and corporate functions. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Strategy.
Commenting on the appointment, Wolverine Worldwide President and CEO Chris Hufnagel stated:
“In his time with the Company, Brett’s seen virtually every aspect of our global operations and he has a long track record of success in both building great teams and driving the business. Perhaps most importantly, Brett has been a key architect, trusted advisor, and integral leader of our Company’s turnaround effort over the past 18 months. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his deep experience and strong partnerships to help identify and drive our strategic objectives and deliver better returns for our shareholders.”
Merrell
On February 10, U.S. outdoor footwear brand Merrell announced the appointment of Richard McLeod as Chief Marketing Officer. He will report to Janice Tennant, Global Brand President of Merrell.
In his new role, Richard McLeod will lead Merrell’s global marketing efforts and drive the enhancement of modern integrated marketing capabilities to further strengthen the brand’s position as a global leader in outdoor activities and lifestyle.
Janice Tennant commented: “Rich is widely recognized as a consumer-obsessed leader and builder of talent with a track record of growing brands through strong consumer demand creation and retail execution. Rich’s depth of experience will help position Merrell for long-term growth.”
Richard McLeod brings over 20 years of executive experience and is known for his strategic approach to building globally recognized brands, fostering consumer connections, and driving long-term growth and cultural relevance. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of U.S. apparel brand Champion, where he led strategic planning and strengthened the brand’s market presence through consumer insights, brand development, creative storytelling, and innovation. Prior to Champion, he was Senior Vice President of Brand at Canada Goose, where he was responsible for brand development, growth, and performance.
| Sources: Brand and company official websites, LinkedIn (official and executive profiles), Sourcing Journal, Retail Insider, MarketWatch.com, The Industry.Fashion, Dow Jones Newswire
| Image Credit: Brand and company official websites, LinkedIn (official and executive profiles)
| Editor: Jiang Jingjin
