VF Corporation chairman Eric Wiseman to retire
VF Corporation, the US footwear and apparel company whose brands include the likes of Timberland, The North Face and Vans, has announced that its executive chairman Eric Wiseman will retire on 28 October.
The firm’s board of directors has elected president, chief executive and director Steven Rendle as his successor.
In a statement, VF said Wiseman’s retirement will complete its planned leadership succession process which began with the promotion of Rendle to president and chief operating officer in June 2015, and to chief executive in January of this year.
Alan McCollough, lead independent director of VF’s board of directors, said: “Succession planning at the highest levels of VF’s senior leadership team is a key component of the company’s long-term success, a responsibility the board takes very seriously.
“The decision to select Steve as chairman was made following a thorough evaluation of the required skill and leadership capabilities necessary to fuel the company’s continued global growth.”
Wiseman began his career with VF in 1995 when he joined the company as executive vice president of the JanSport business. After holding a range of leadership roles, he was named president and chief operating officer in 2006, and elected to VF’s board of directors that same year. He took up the role of chairman in January 2008 and chairman of the board in August 2008.
Commenting on the succession plan, Wiseman said: “Now is the right time to take this final step in our leadership succession plan. With credit to our board of directors, the plan and its implementation have proven successful. Steve’s transition to CEO has gone smoothly, and just as he was the right person to serve as VF’s next CEO, Steve is the right person to now serve as our chairman of the board.”
