Kontoor Brands Elevates Tom Waldron to Chief Operating Officer: Tom Waldron has been appointed chief operating officer of Kontoor Brands, a U.S. apparel company, as of Tuesday, March 19.

Kontoor Brands Elevates Tom Waldron to Chief Operating Officer

In his capacity as chief operating officer, Waldron will oversee the company’s global supply chain operations in addition to taking on responsibility for Lee and Wrangler.

Formerly serving as Wrangler’s global brand president, EVP, and co-chief operating officer, Waldron was in charge of the company’s marketing, sales, and distribution efforts worldwide. Waldron was president of Wrangler and Riders by Lee, North America for VF Corporation until coming to Kontoor Brands in 2019.

Scott Baxter, president, chief executive officer, and chair of Kontoor Brands, stated, “We are further advancing our operating model in conjunction with Project Jeanius to simplify our organization and increase speed and efficiency.”

“As a following step, I’m happy to announce that Kontoor Brands has appointed Tom Waldron as its chief operational officer. The next stage of Kontoor’s growth and value creation is supported by this appointment, which also serves to unite our company.

“Tom is an incredibly gifted businessman who has guided Wrangler through a challenging global operating climate and helped the company develop and become profitable again. His thirty years of experience and unwavering enthusiasm for our company will undoubtedly propel our brands forward and help us expand faster.

Jenni Broyles has been appointed to the role of EVP, global brands president, Wrangler and Lee, concurrently with Waldron’s promotion. Ezio Garciamendez has also been promoted to the role of Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer. Waldron will be the person to whom Broyles and Garciamendez report as members of the executive leadership team.

Furthermore, Christopher Waldeck, who served as Lee’s global brand president, co-chief operational officer, and executive vice president, will be leaving his position.

According to Kontoor’s most recent business update, retailer inventory management practices in the United States caused an 8% fall in fourth-quarter sales to $670 million, offsetting improvements in digital wholesale, China, and DTC.