Keen Inc. welcomed Chris Pawlus as its new VP of product design and innovation. In his new role, Pawlus will oversee the innovation team and the product design team for Outdoor, Lifestyle and Kids (OLK). His leadership will provide creative harmony between Keen business units, elevating product through clear functional and aesthetic direction.
“Chris will help create the right structures and strategy to empower both product design and product innovation teams to work closely together, unlocking the creative and innovative strengths of some of our greatest assets,” said Erik Burbank, the global general manager for OLK. “Chris has a fantastic track record in leading teams, and in connecting design and innovation in ways that lead to commercially successful products. His hire fortifies our commitment to global product design direction and product category innovation, and Chris is a perfect fit to lead these teams at Keen.”
With a strong track record earned over 21 years with Timberland, Pawlus moved his way up through that organization with key accomplishments and experiences gained in the areas of urban, youth, innovation, outdoor, casual, and women’s footwear. Pawlus is positioned well to unite Keen’s product families and provide integration across the Innovation Team as well as brand creative stakeholders.
He was most recently Timberland’s vice president global product design and creative director.
“This is an exciting opportunity to join the Keen family and help build upon its positioning as an industry leader in design and innovation,” said Pawlus. “As a values led outdoor and lifestyle brand, I’m looking forward to being part of an organization that puts reducing impact, doing good and giving back at the heart of what it does eveyday”.
Pawlus will start his new role at Keen global headquarters in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, Nov. 6. His wife and four children will relocate from Massachusetts.
Image courtesy Keen
