Wolverine Worldwide has named Susie Kuhn as president of the company’s Active Group, effective Oct. 28.
In her new role, Kuhn will be responsible for leading successful brand strategies, executing consumer-focused go-to-market plans, and driving commercial performance for the group’s brand, which include Merrell, Saucony and Chaco.
The Collective – the company’s recently created center-of-excellence focused on enabling our brands with consumer insights, trend, and innovation – will also report into Kuhn.
She will report directly to Chris Hufnagel, president and chief executive officer of Wolverine Worldwide, and serve on the company’s executive team.
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Kuhn brings more than 25 years of global brand-building experience in the footwear, apparel, and retail industries – including senior leadership roles at Foot Locker, Nike, Converse and URBN. She most recently served as Foot Locker’s president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, where she had full responsibility for brand strategy and operational performance.
“We’re excited to welcome Susie to the team and are confident that her diverse, global experience working with leading brands – coupled with her collaborative, results-driven leadership style – will help drive our Active Group brands and the entire company forward,” Hufnagel said in a statement. “We’re eager to see the impact Susie’s well-rounded expertise will have on our Active Group brands and the entire Wolverine Worldwide team as we continue our effort to build a new company for the future.”
On her new appointment, Kuhn added that she is “honored” and “grateful” for the opportunity to be a part of the company’s strategic transformation.
“[These brands] are recognized and loved by consumers all around the world, and The Collective is an industry-leading resource that will help these brands forge even stronger connections with their consumers,” Kuhn said. “I look forward to building on the momentum that’s been created and accelerating these brands’ and the Company’s growth into the future.”
The news comes as Wolverine Worldwide continues to work on its turnaround plan. In its most recent earnings report in August, the Rockford, Mich.-based company reported that revenues decreased 27.8 percent in the second quarter to $425.2 million, down from $589.1 million the same time last year.
