Wolverine Europe will soon consolidate its three UK offices in one single new location in London. The group’s acquisitions over the years have led to Hush Puppies being run from Leicester, Merrell and Patagonia footwear from Bristol, and the former Overland Group – which includes the Caterpillar footwear brand – from a London office.
The three divisions will still be run independently, but will be housed from next August in a new building at King’s Cross in London, not far from the international railroad station of the Eurostar. The 100-odd employees of the Bristol and Leicester offices will be offered jobs at the new London office.
In a decision described as having been taken separately, Michael Lynskey has left as European manager of Wolverine’s Outdoor Group. Pending the choice of a successor, his functions will be taken over by Onder Ors, who has been promoted from vice president to senior vice president in charge of international development for the Outdoor Group.
Ors, who has been with the company for more than ten years, was previously responsible for relations with distributors. Wolverine is set on expanding its European business considerably this year, which currently represents 20 percent of the group’s total turnover.
Meanwhile, Timothy J. O’Donovan’s position as chairman of the board of directors at Wolverine has been extended for another year. William K Gerber has been appointed as a new member of the board.