Wolverine appoints new president for consumer direct

ROCKFORD, Mich. — Wolverine Worldwide has appointed Jodi K. Watson as president of consumer direct, reporting to chairman, CEO and president Blake W. Krueger.

In her new role, Watson will be responsible for direct-to-consumer operations for the company, including stores and e-commerce.

Watson was most recently the company’s VP of e-commerce, leading Wolverine's global digital strategy. She has served on its retail leadership team since joining the company in 2009.

"Jodi is a consumer-centric executive with a proven track record of success,” said Krueger. “She is an excellent leader and a student of the industry, but most important, she is passionate about our consumers and our brands. For the fast-changing, global retail environment in which we compete, Jodi is the right leader at the right time.”

"The opportunities ahead for Wolverine Worldwide are limitless — our portfolio is the best in the industry, and our platforms are second-to-none," said Watson. "It has been a privilege to be a part of the company through such a transformational period. I look forward to working with Blake, our industry-leading management team, and the entire organization as we enter a new era of opportunity for the company."

Watson has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Before joining Wolverine, she was chief marketing officer for Bag, Borrow or Steal, an innovative marketing leader in e-commerce. Before that, Watson was VP of direct marketing services for Williams-Sonoma Inc.

Watson graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in marketing and management from Portland State University and holds a master’s in design methods from the IIT Institute of Design.

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is a leading marketer of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport, athletic, children's and uniform footwear and apparel. The company's portfolio of brands includes Merrell, Sperry Top-Sider, Hush Puppies, Saucony, Wolverine, Keds, Stride Rite, Sebago, Cushe, Chaco, Bates, HYTEST and Soft Style. The company also is the global footwear licensee of brands including Cat, Harley-Davidson and Patagonia. The company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in approximately 200 countries and territories.