Susie Kuhn is joining Rockford, Michigan-based Wolverine Worldwide as president of the company’s active group, which includes Merrell, Saucony, and Chaco.
The former Foot Locker president of Europe has 25 years of experience in brand-building, with senior roles at Nike, Converse, and URBN.
“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,” said President and CEO Chris Hufnagel in a statement. “She has managed virtually all aspects of consumer-focused businesses in her previous roles – working on both the brand and retail side of the business while focusing squarely on customer journeys, driving the business, and keeping a pulse on consumer and marketplace trends.”
Kuhn said she was honored to take on the new role and to help the company undergo its strategic transformation. Kuhn will report to Hufnagel. And The Collective, a new Wolverine entity that funnels consumer insights and trends to the rest of the company, will report to Kuhn.
“The Merrell, Saucony, and Chaco 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 in a statement. “I look forward to building on the momentum that’s been created and accelerating these brands’ and the company’s growth into the future.”
Wolverine Worldwide, the parent company of Merrell, Saucony, Sweaty Betty, and Chaco, raised the mid-point of its guidance for 2024 after reporting better-than-expected revenue and earnings for the quarter ending June 29.