#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

2021-03-04

VF Corporation appoints Susie Mulder as Global Brand President, Timberland®

VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), a global leader in branded lifestyle apparel, footwear and accessories, today announced the appointment of Susie Mulder as Global Brand President, Timberland®. She begins in her new role on April 5 and will report to VF’s Chairman, President and CEO, Steve Rendle. She will also serve on VF’s Executive Leadership Team.

Mulder will be responsible for driving the Timberland® brand’s core strategic priorities related to product diversification across footwear and apparel, and a consumer-led, retail-centric, digital-first approach. She will build on the brand’s new eco-innovation franchises while also ensuring continued success within the Timberland PRO® business.

Mulder joins the Timberland® brand from clothing brand NIC+ZOE where she served as CEO since April 2012. During her tenure as CEO, Mulder guided NIC+ZOE’s continued revenue growth through expansion into new points of distribution in the U.S. and internationally, and launched the brand’s direct-to-consumer efforts via e-commerce and its owned stores.

Before serving as CEO of NIC+ZOE, Mulder was a partner at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company where she was a leader in the global retail and consumer goods practice for 15 years.

“We conducted a very thoughtful and extensive search to find the ideal person to lead our iconic Timberland® brand globally, and we found that person in Susie,” said Rendle. “She brings a broad mix of experience in apparel, retail and consumer strategies, all of which is complemented by her strong leadership skills and passion for people and active lifestyles. We look forward to working with Susie as we build on the Timberland® brand’s rich heritage and its recent momentum as it continues to evolve and diversify its go-to-market skills with new and innovative product, consumer-oriented stories and compelling brand experiences.”

Mulder has deep experience in corporate boardrooms. She is currently a Board Member at the Kraft Heinz Company where she serves on the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees. She is also a Board Member of Sally Beauty Holdings where she serves on the Executive Committee and other committees. In addition, Mulder is a member of the Philanthropic Board of Advisors for the Boston Children’s Hospital.

“I'm thrilled to join VF and have the opportunity to help lead the Timberland® brand into the future,” said Mulder. “I've been both a fan and a consumer of the brand since moving to New England over 25 years ago. During that time, I’ve come to admire the brand not only for its great products, but also its clear commitment to environmental and social responsibility. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves alongside the global Timberland® community and get to work.”

Susie Mulder - VF Corporation (Photo: Business Wire)

Originally from Montréal, Canada, Mulder is a graduate of McGill University’s Faculty of Management where she was a University Scholar. She also holds an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Mulder will partner closely with Martino Scabbia Guerrini, VF’s President of the EMEA Region, to manage this transition of leadership. Scabbia Guerrini has served as the Timberland® brand’s interim brand president for the past 14 months, in addition to his EMEA responsibilities.

View the full release here:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210303005256/en/

Texprocess 2026: Automation, digitalisation and AI redefine textile processing

Making investment decisions in textile processing has become significantly more demanding. Increasing energy costs, a shortage of skilled labour and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties are compelling companies to focus on technologies that deliver clear gains in efficiency and process reliability. This applies equally to apparel manufacturing and to the processing of technical textiles and high-performance materials. As a result, modernisation initiatives are assessed more carefully – even as the need to upgrade production systems continues to intensify.

Techtextil 2026: Between innovation pressure & market reality

From 21 to 24 April 2026, Techtextil in Frankfurt am Main will once again become the central meeting point for the international technical textiles and nonwovens industry. Running in parallel, Texprocess will focus on the industrial implementation of textile processing technologies as the leading platform in this field. Together, the two trade fairs form a closely integrated presentation and working platform along the entire textile value chain – from material development to finished applications.

Between geopolitical pressure and industrial resilience

In this interview, Dr. Janpeter Horn (VDMA) discusses the current challenges facing textile machinery manufacturers, shaped by geopolitical tensions, regulatory developments and subdued investment. He also outlines why innovation strength, integrated solutions and strategic positioning remain key to global competitiveness.

Messe Frankfurt commits further to East Africa: three textiles trade fairs during Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week from 2027

Messe Frankfurt and its Texpertise Network continue their steady, successful trajectory in the region. As Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) opened today, Member of the Executive Board Detlef Braun announced that Messe Frankfurt is licencing its three leading international trade fair brands Texworld, Apparel Sourcing and Texprocess to Nairobi, Kenya for the first time in 2027. From now on, they will take place annually as part of the Africa Sourcing and Fashion Week (ASFW) Nairobi.

“We Believe in the Value of Textiles”: Successful Opening of the KARL MAYER TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER

KARL MAYER inaugurated its new, state-of-the-art TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER (TIC) with a four-day opening week from April 21 to 24. The highlight of the week was the grand opening on Thursday, which drew a strong turnout from the international textile industry: around 220 customers, brands, and partners from across the textile value chain came to the company’s headquarters in Obertshausen for a first-hand look at the new high-tech development environment and lively exchange with industry peers.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.

Jeanologia brings “Billy” to China, the AI transforming denim design

The denim industry is turning its attention to Hangzhou this week, where a new edition of Kingpins, the leading international trade show for the sector, takes place on May 21 and 22. There, the Spanish company Jeanologia, a global leader in sustainable technologies for the textile industry, is introducing its latest innovation to the Chinese market: “Billy”, the first artificial intelligence specifically developed for denim finishing design.