Looking to reinvigorate Vans’ sales, VF Corporation went with an internal hire with a track record of success with the brand. Namely, 17-year company veteran Kevin Bailey, former Vans brand president from 2009 to 2016 when, under his leadership, revenue more than doubled to $2.2 billion.
“Kevin brings a deep level of knowledge and understanding of the Vans brand, its consumer and the global business to this role,” states Steve Rendle, chairman, president and CEO, VF. “He will work closely with the Vans leadership team and our enterprise functions as we focus on re-energizing the brand’s global growth.”
Bailey’s return as Global Brand President to the action sports and lifestyle brand comes on the heels of holding several enterprise leadership roles at VF. He most recently served as VF’s President, Asia-Pacific Region and Emerging Brands. In this role, he was responsible for the Altra, JanSport and Smartwool brands on a global basis. Previously, Bailey served as President of VF’s Action Sports Coalition and the company’s Canada, Mexico and Central/South America businesses. Bailey joined VF as Vice President of Retail for Vans when the brand was acquired by the company in 2004.
Bailey, who will continue reporting to Rendle and serving on the company’s Executive Leadership Team, replaces Doug Palladini, who served as Global Brand President of Vans since 2016. “We thank Doug for his dedicated and passionate service to the Vans brand for the past 18 years and are grateful for his many contributions to its success during his tenure,” Rendle says. “We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”
Returning to the mother skateboard: Kevin Bailey, Global Brand President, Vans.
