Wolverine appoints global brand presidents

Wolverine appoints global brand presidents

Joelle Grunberg. Courtesy Wolverine Worldwide

Wolverine Worldwide appointed leaders to oversee two of its global brands.

The Rockford-based maker of apparel and footwear said this month that it appointed Joelle Grunberg as global president of Sperry and Tom Kennedy as global president of the Wolverine brand.

Grunberg joins Wolverine Worldwide from Lacoste, where she served as president and CEO of North and Central America.

Kennedy spent the past three years in Boston leading Sperry and will return to Michigan for his new role with the Wolverine brand, in addition to overseeing the company’s licensing group and joining its mergers and acquisitions team with a focus on apparel and accessories opportunities.

“Joelle is a seasoned leader with skills in global, consumer-focused businesses and has deep expertise in fashion, apparel, footwear and accessories,” said Blake Krueger, chair, president and CEO of Wolverine Worldwide. “She is an excellent addition to our team, and we are excited to see Sperry’s direction under her leadership.”

Todd Spaletto, president of the Wolverine Michigan Group that includes the Wolverine brand, said the division is eager to have Kennedy return home “after his success with Sperry” in Boston.

“Tom is a strategic merchant and leader with extensive apparel experience, which will be instrumental in helping the Wolverine brand expand its product lines and scope,” Spaletto said. “Tom’s appointment will accelerate a significant growth opportunity for both Wolverine Worldwide and the Wolverine brand, and we plan to quickly leverage (his) expertise.”

Joelle Grunberg

During the past 27 years, Grunberg has worked in consumer goods, consulting and accounting industries.

Previously, she was with Celio Group Inc., Louis Pion-Royal Quartz, McKinsey & Company and Ernst & Young.

At Lacoste, she was responsible for retail stores, e-commerce, wholesale, regional product development and all regional support functions in North and Central America.

She recently was named one of the top 20 female executives in the retail industry by the Women in Retail Leadership Circle.

Grunberg holds a Master of Business Administration in finance from ESSEC Business School in France.

Tom Kennedy

Kennedy joined Wolverine Worldwide in 2015 as president of apparel and accessories before taking the helm of Sperry in 2017.

Before that, he held executive and leadership roles with Fossil, Pacific Sunwear, Nike, Old Navy and Gap.

Kennedy holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from King’s College.