Wolverine management steps in a new direction
US-based branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear company Wolverine World Wide, Inc. has made organisational changes at its corporate and branded operations that will see several management executives step up the ladder.
Chief financial officer Stephen Gulis, Jr. will be appointed president, Global Operations Group, effective in 2008, whilst maintaining his role of executive vice president of the company. He will continue as CFO until a replacement has been appointed. In his new role, he will replace Arthur Croci, who will retire next year after 22 years at the company.
James Zwiers, who has been with Wolverine since 1998, has been promoted to senior vice president, effective January 1. In this new position, he will take over responsibility for retail, legal, new business development and strategic planning operations.
In the company’s branded operations, Scott Sible has been promoted to president, Outdoor Group, consisting of the Merrell and Patagonia brands, whilst Nicholas Ottenwess will be appointed senior vice president - Operations of the Outdoor Group, with responsibility for global operations, strategic development, finance and administrative functions. At the Hush Puppies Company, Mark Neal has been promoted to president, effective January 1, replacing Spencer (Skip) Zimmerman, who will retire in June, whilst A.T. Payne will become vice president and general manager of Hush Puppies US business.
Wolverine’s brands include Bates, Hush Puppies, HYTEST, Merrell, Sebago and Wolverine. The company is also the exclusive footwear licensee of CAT, Harley-Davidson and Patagonia footwear.
