Dr. Martens appoints new Non-Executive Directors
Dr Martens has announced the appointment of Robert Hanson and Benoit Vauchy as Non-Executive Directors of the company, effective 26 March.
Hanson has a wealth of retail experience under his belt, with a "strong track record of delivering growth at consumer brands".
Previously, he was CEO of jeweller John Hardy and of American Eagle Outfitters. He also spent over a decade in senior positions at Levi Strauss & Co, including as President of the Americas division before becoming Global Brand President for the region.
Hanson's Non-Executive experience includes positions on the boards of Canopy Growth, Urban Outfitters and Constellation Brands. Most recently, he was appointed CEO of US wine company The Duckhorn Portfolio.
Vauchy is a Partner and member of the Investment & Executive Committees at Dr Martens' largest investor, Permira, where he has worked since 2006. He previously spent six years at J.P. Morgan in London and Frankfurt.
He serves on the board for Permira and has previously held a place on the boards of Universidad Europa, VacanceSelect and Exclusive Networks.
Vauchy has also served as a Non-Executive Director at Spanish online travel company eDreams ODIGEO for over ten years, with the business undergoing a significant period of transformation during his tenure.
Dr Martens was founded in 1947 by Dr. Klaus Märtens in Seeshaupt, Germany, who created the shoe to help a soldier recover from a broken foot, using discarded tyres to create the now-famous Air Wair sole.
Paul Mason, Chairman, said: "We are pleased to announce these appointments today. The expertise and experiences of both Robert and Benoit further strengthens our Board. Robert has significant USA and wholesale experience and is a proven consumer brand CEO. Benoit is an experienced financial leader and his appointment to the Board demonstrates Permira’s commitment to Dr. Martens. I am looking forward to working with them both, together with the existing Board, as we enter the next phase in the company’s history, under the talented leadership of Ije and Giles [Nworkorie and Wilson, CEO and CFO, respectively]."
