Wolverine Worldwide has named Susie Kuhn president of the company’s Active Group, which oversees Merrell, Saucony, and Chaco. Kuhn will be responsible for leading successful brand strategies, executing consumer-focused go-to-market plans, and driving commercial performance. In addition, The Collective, the company’s recently created center-of-excellence focused on enabling brands with consumer insights, trend, and innovation, will also report into Kuhn. She will report directly to Chris Hufnagel, president and CEO of Wolverine Worldwide.
“We’re excited to welcome Susie to the team and are confident that her diverse, global experience working with leading brands—coupled with her collaborative, results-driven leadership style—will help drive our Active Group brands and the entire company forward,” states Hufnagel. “She has managed virtually all aspects of consumer-focused businesses in her previous roles—working on both the brand and retail side of the business while focusing squarely on customer journeys, driving the business, and keeping a pulse on consumer and marketplace trends.” The exec adds, “We’re eager to see the impact Susie’s well-rounded expertise will have on our Active Group brands and the entire Wolverine Worldwide team as we continue our effort to build a new company for the future.”
Kuhn brings more than 25 years of global brand-building experience in the footwear, apparel, and retail industries, including senior leadership roles at Foot Locker, Nike, Converse, and URBN. Her experience spans a variety of disciplines, ranging from global brand-building to wholesale, direct-to-consumer, merchandising, product design and development, and marketing. She most recently served as Foot Locker’s president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa, where she had full responsibility for brand strategy and operational performance.
“I’m honored to be appointed as Wolverine Worldwide’s new Active Group President and am grateful for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the company’s strategic transformation,” Khun states. “The Merrell, Saucony, and Chaco brands are recognized and loved by consumers all around the world, and The Collective is an industry-leading resource that will help these brands forge even stronger connections with their consumers. I look forward to building on the momentum that’s been created and accelerating these brands’ and the Company’s growth into the future.”
Susie Kuhn, president, Wolverine Worldwide’s Active Group
