The outdoor and sporting goods industries have sustained an enormous lose with the passing of footwear veteran Jacques Lavertue, president and GM of the Outdoor Group at Wolverine World Wide, who lost an eight-month battle with cancer in October. He was 53. He is survived by his wife, Caroline; son, Alexander; sister, Lise; and father, Armand.


Lavertue joined Wolverine World Wide in 1997 as head of the Merrell brand, which he led successfully for more than a decade. Most recently, Lavertue was in charge of the Outdoor Group – comprised of the Merrell, Sebago and Patagonia Footwear brands – and was an integral part of Wolverine’s senior management team. Lavertue’s personal and professional relationships spanned the globe, and he will be greatly missed.


“It’s been a long eight months for all of us,” said Merrell president Scott Sible. “Jacques had a strong team at Merrell that will remain intact. The business is strong and there are no changes in philosophy. The core group that Jacques assembled in 1998 is still here and is still solid and determined.”


Blake Krueger, president and CEO of Wolverine World Wide, stated, “Jacques’ dedication to the Merrell brand and his ability to build one of the strongest global brand teams in the industry drove the business from $27 million in 1997 to the more than $450 million global lifestyle brand it is today. His friendship, leadership and passion for life will always be remembered by those who were lucky enough to work with and learn from him.”


Chris Goddard, president of public relations firm CGPR, recalled, “Jacques was our first client and we have had the wonderful experience of working with him and the talented team he assembled during the past 15 years. He was completely dialed in with regard to his vision for the Merrell brand, and he never wavered from his passion or that vision… We were very lucky to have known Jacques and to have been touched by him.”


Donations in Memory of Jacques Lavertue can be sent to the Helen DeVos Children’s Foundation (Pediatric Oncology) at 100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.