Exec Moves at Saucony + Axel Arigato
Footwear News
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Welcome back to FN Daily, where we break down the biggest stories happening in footwear and retail.
Today, we have executive moves at Saucony and Axel Arigato. Plus, Nike expands its paid parental leave benefits.
Here's what you need to know.
Saucony Taps Joy Allen-Altimare as Global Chief Marketing Officer
Saucony has named Joy Allen-Altimare as its new global chief marketing officer, effective immediately.
According to the Wolverine Worldwide-owned footwear brand, Allen-Altimare will be responsible for developing and executing Saucony’s global branding initiatives, including brand positioning, direct-to-consumer strategies, advertising, digital strategies, international growth initiatives and expansion of the brand’s global heritage lifestyle business.
Allen-Altimare joins Saucony from Havas Media Network, where she was responsible for overseeing the agency’s client experience, growth and multicultural teams as the chief revenue officer of North America.
Big picture: Allen-Altimare’s hire comes at a critical moment for Wolverine Worldwide as president and chief executive officer Chris Hufnagel works to turn around the Rockford, Mich.-based footwear company.
Axel Arigato Promotes Jens Werner to Creative Director
Swedish footwear and fashion label Axel Arigato has named Jens Werner its new creative director.
Werner, who joined the company in 2021 as head of ready-to-wear, succeeded Max Sv?rdh, who cofounded the label alongside Albin Johansson in 2014. Sv?rdh will remain a board member and co-owner of the label.
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A self-taught designer, Werner previously was the creative director of J. Lindeberg. He has also worked for Y-3, the fashion-focused line between Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto, and served as designer director at Tory Burch’s performance activewear line Tory Sport. In his new role, Werner said he will create the next generation of the Axel Arigato brand while building on the?decade-long legacy of teamwork and collaboration. The brand’s fall 2024 campaign, to be revealed in a few weeks, will offer a glimpse of Werner’s vision for the brand.
Nike Increases Paid Parental Leave to 16 Weeks for All US Employees
Nike is making a big change to support employees on their journey to parenthood.
The Swoosh late last week announced that as of June 1, it has increased its paid parental leave benefit from eight to 16 weeks for all U.S.-based employees to bond with a child after birth, adoption or foster placement. For the first time, this benefit will extend to part-time retail employees.
Why this is big: Nike has been strongly criticized for its lack of support to mothers in the past. Olympian?Allyson Felix?has?openly called out?Nike, her former sponsor, since she publicly?split?from the brand in 2019 over its unfair policies regarding pregnant athletes. And last month, a former?Nike?retail employee filed a class action?lawsuit?against the company claiming it does not accommodate postpartum and breastfeeding female employees in California who need to pump breastmilk while at work.
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