That’s a wrap.
Wolverine Worldwide Chairman and retired CEO, Blake Krueger, will be retiring from the board on May 4, 2023. Tom Long, the Board’s Lead Independent Director, has been appointed to serve as the next chairman.
For Krueger, it marks the culmination of an approximately 30-year run with the Rockford, MI-based company, which spanned a series of executive roles culminating in his appointment as CEO and Board member in 2007, then as CEO and Chairman of the Board in 2010. He retired as CEO at the end of 2021, and since then has continued to lead the company’s board of directors as executive chairman in 2022 and as chairman this year. Long joined Wolverine Worldwide’s board in 2011 after a 30-year career that included serving as CEO of MillerCoors, LLC, CEO and CMO of Miller Brewing Company, and in several senior global and marketing roles at Coca-Cola. He was appointed Lead Independent Director of Wolverine Worldwide’s Board in 2022, and previously served as Chair of the Compensation Committee.
“On behalf of the board of directors, I would like thank to Blake for his many years of dedication and service to the company and its shareholders,” states Long. “During his long tenure, the company transformed from a traditional footwear wholesaler into a consumer-focused, global organization with one of the world’s largest portfolios of footwear and lifestyle brands. I am honored to succeed him as chairman as part of our planned leadership transition.”
“I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work closely with and learn from Blake since I joined the company in August 2020,” says Brendan Hoffman, president and CEO. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation he laid and working with the word-class team he assembled to elevate Wolverine Worldwide’s position as a global leader in the industry.”
“It has been an absolute privilege and honor to have served Wolverine Worldwide for the past 30 years, and to have played a role in the company’s successful 140-year history,” Krueger says. “I am excited about the company’s future and know that under Brendan’s leadership and the strategic guidance of Tom and the board of directors, and with the efforts of our global team, Wolverine Worldwide and its shareholders are in great hands and well-positioned for continued growth and success.”
From left: Blake Krueger and Tom Long
In other news, Wolverine Worldwide appointed three new board members: Stacia Andersen, executive vice president and Chief Customer Officer of PetSmart, LLC; Jodi Bricker, CEO of Quay Australia, a global eyewear brand that sells sunglasses and prescription eyewear; DeMonty Price, who recently retired after five years as the President and Chief Operating Service and Values Officer of RH, a curator of design, taste, and style in the luxury lifestyle market. Also, David McCreight, a board member since 2019, has announced his resignation.
“I would like to thank David for his years of service and invaluable insights, and we wish him well at Lulu’s,” says Hoffman. “Looking ahead, Stacia, Jodi, and DeMonty each have more than 25 years of omnichannel retail, marketing, and brand-building experience in senior executive roles. We are excited to bring their individual and collective knowledge and insight into our boardroom as we continue to advance our growth strategy.”
