Global footwear and apparel brand, REEF, is excited to announce the hiring of footwear industry veteran, John Eades, as its new Senior Director of Product.
John Eades
Eades is returning to the place he once called home, having been a hire of REEF’s founders, Santiago and Fernando – widely considered the global experts in sandal making. He came on board as REEF’s Design Manager in 2003 and was with the brand as Director of Product until 2009. John calls himself a product of “REEF University,” something that has shaped his approach to building sandals.
Following his original stint at REEF, Eades went on to launch his own brand, Vere Sandal Company, where he and his partner built a factory from scratch in the USA making premium, high quality, sustainable sandals. After eight years running Vere, he was recruited to lead the Footwear Product Team at Roxy.
Eades has now returned to REEF to build on what he started nearly two decades ago. As Senior Director of Product, Eades will lead the team creating REEF’s best-in-class product with a focus on upping the standard on fit and moving toward incorporating sustainability into every piece as a core part of the brand’s mission.
“To have John Eades lead our product team, it was a no brainer. He’s one of the most experienced sandal experts in the world and REEF runs in his blood,” said Mike Jensen, President of REEF. “John’s role is to activate an entrepreneurial approach to product development that’s more closely tied to the immediate needs of our consumers. His job is to make the best product for sandal lovers around the world, and I have no doubt he will succeed.”
To find out more on REEF and its product offerings, visit www.reef.com.
