Wolverine general manager to be acting LHCA president
The Leather and Hide Council of America (LHCA) has said Kerry Brozyna will become its acting president in June, taking over the role that Stephen Sothmann left at the end of 2023.
Mr Brozyna will join LHCA from his current role as vice-president and general manager of footwear group Wolverine Worldwide. LHCA said he would bring significant experience of brands, manufacturing and international supply chain management to the organisation. He is also currently the co-chair of the board of LHCA.
He will oversee the strategic direction of LHCA, which is the voice of 75 member companies in the US hide and leather industry. The US exports around 95% of its cattle hides. In 2023, exported a total of 28.6 million wet-salted and wet blue hides to leather manufacturers all over the world. Total export revenues from these shipments was more than $1.1 billion.
LHCA also runs an industry sustainability programme that brings together partners from across the supply chain to promote best practice in manufacturing and championing the use of sustainable, high-quality leather in international markets.
It will release what it has called “the first comprehensive, independent lifecycle assessment of US cowhide production at The Economist Sustainability Summit in London in March. LHCA has said in advance of releasing the study that it is data-driven and will show a significantly smaller environmental footprint for leather than previous models have shown.
Kerry Brozyna commented: “A firm commitment is required to solutions that are as good for the planet as they are for business. We must protect and grow international markets and educate stakeholders and consumers as to why slow style is preferrable to fast fashion.”
He said he wanted to support the leather industry in its “rapid evolution” and to help it capitalise on the opportunity it has as “a unique industry that consumes, rather than creates, waste”.
