Merrell Names Noreen Naroo-Pucci Chief Product Officer as Evolution Continues at Wolverine
Stephen Garner
Senior Editor
Merrell has tapped Noreen Naroo-Pucci as its new chief product officer.
According to the Wolverine Worldwide-owned brand, Naroo-Pucci will be tasked with expanding Merrell as a lifestyle brand. The company said in a statement that Merrell’s strategic move into the lifestyle segment “caters to the growing demand for versatile footwear that seamlessly transitions from outdoor adventures to everyday urban life.”
Expect to see the brand tap into a trend where consumers seek products that support an active, outdoor-inspired lifestyle, even in their daily routines, the company added.
“We’re excited to have Noreen join us,” Janice Tennant, global brand president of Merrell, said in a statement. “From her depth of experience working globally across great brands, her passion for innovation and elevating design and a commitment to building high performing teams, she is going to help us continue to modernize the brand in order to attract the next generation of outdoor consumers.”
Naroo-Pucci was most recently the chief product officer at Mizzen+Main, a young menswear brand. Her career also includes serving as the senior vice president of menswear design in North America for Calvin Klein and eleven years at Under Armour as senior creative director and vice president of global design engine.
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“Merrell is a brand that understands the evolving outdoor space and is dedicated to building strong, purposeful footwear, and I am thrilled to work with the talented team to create innovative products to empower our consumers,” Naroo-Pucci, said. “I’m eager to bring my passion for product to Merrell as I lead with vision and integrity as we bring style and functionality in everyday urban settings.”
Naroo-Pucci is the latest new hire at Wolverine Worldwide in recent months. In November, the company named industry veteran Mike Maloney as the new chief product officer of its Work Group. Maloney, who joined from DSW parent company Designer Brands, will spearhead product development, merchandise strategy and market expansion initiatives for all brands within the Work Group, including Wolverine, Cat Footwear, Bates, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Merrell Work and Hytest.
In October, Wolverine Worldwide named Susie Kuhn as president of the company’s Active Group. In her role, Kuhn is now responsible for leading Merrell, Saucony and Chaco, as well as the company’s Collective initiative.
Wolverine Worldwide ended Q3 last month with revenue of $440.2 million, down 16.6 percent from $527.7 million the same time last year. Ongoing total revenue in Q3 – which excludes the impact of sold assets – was $440.1 million, a decrease of 7.0 percent from $473.3 million the prior year period.
Looking ahead, the company raised its guidance slightly and now expects total revenue from its ongoing business to be approximately $1.730 billion to $1.745 billion for the full fiscal year 2024.
