Wolverine Worldwide appointed Tom Kennedy as president of Sperry, the second-largest brand within its portfolio.
In his new role, Kennedy will report to Richie Woodworth, president of the Wolverine Boston Group. Woodworth noted, “Tom is uniquely qualified to energize and accelerate Sperry’s global growth initiatives across all areas of the business. Tom is a seasoned leader that drives growth through consumer-led product line innovations and merchandising strategies, and we are excited about his ability to deliver on Sperry’s promise of telling strong brand stories that connect people to the sea and inspire modern day adventures.”
Kennedy joined the company over a year ago with more than 20 years of experience in the retail and apparel industry, most recently as the company’s president of apparel and accessories, Kennedy will accelerate Sperry’s migration to a global head-to-toe lifestyle brand. During his tenure with Wolverine Worldwide, Kennedy has overseen all apparel and accessories initiatives for the company’s entire family of global lifestyle and performance brands including Sperry, Saucony, Wolverine and Merrell.
“A seasoned veteran of the footwear, apparel and accessory industry, Tom brings a keen understanding of the evolving modern consumer coupled with extensive experience in product development, merchandising strategy and business management,” said Blake Krueger, Wolverine Worldwide’s chairman, CEO and president. “Tom will have an immediate impact and we are excited to bring his experience, brand building capabilities and mindset for growth to capitalize on the potential for the Sperry brand. Tom’s strategic vision, leadership and focus will continue to propel Sperry forward.”
Kennedy commented, “I’m incredibly honored to take on this new role at Sperry, a truly iconic American brand that has tremendous global opportunities. With a storied history and a unique, purpose-built value proposition, I look forward to working with the talented Sperry team to create new product offerings that inspire our consumers to pursue their next adventure whether on land or at sea.”
