Gregg Ribatt Joins Crocs as CEO
"Gregg brings to Crocs a two-decade track record of success and leadership in guiding companies through significant growth and transformation," said Thomas J. Smach, Crocs chairman of the board. "Since Gregg joined our board of directors in January 2014, he has contributed to the Board's efforts to conceptualize the Crocs of the future. We believe the transformation of Crocs will accelerate under his leadership, and we are delighted to welcome him as our new chief executive officer in January 2015."
Ribatt brings to Crocs 20 years of executive leadership and outstanding performance in consumer branded wholesale and retail organizations in footwear and apparel. Most recently, he served as interim CEO of Spanx, Inc. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Collective Brands Performance & Lifestyle Group, a $1.1 billion leader in global branded performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel, which included the Saucony, Sperry Top-Sider, Keds and Stride Rite brands. Before joining Collective Brands, he was president, CEO and a member of the board of directors for Stuart Weitzman Holdings, a luxury women's fashion footwear company.
He also served as executive vice president and COO of Bennett Footwear Group, which, at the time, was one of the leading women's branded and private label fashion footwear companies in the U.S. He will be based in Crocs' new Global Commercial Center in suburban Boston, while also spending significant time at Crocs' offices in Niwot, Colo., as well as working with Crocs employees and customers around the world.
Andrew Rees will continue in his role as president and will report to Ribatt when he assumes his CEO role in late January. In addition to being CEO, Ribatt will continue to serve on the Crocs board of directors.
"Crocs is an incredible brand with excellent growth potential. In only 12 years, the team has built a billion-dollar global brand with distribution in more than 90 countries, and the Crocs brand continues to have meaningful growth potential in every market in which it competes," Ribatt said. "Over the last nine months, the team has done an exceptional job of working to position the brand and company for the future. My goal is to build on that strategic work while continuing to establish one of the best teams and cultures in the industry.
"I would like to thank Andrew Rees for his great work and leadership since he joined the company last spring as president," Ribatt continued. "I'm confident and excited for the future of the Crocs brand, and I look forward to working with Andrew and the team to help Crocs reach its full potential across the globe."
Ribatt brings to Crocs 20 years of executive leadership and outstanding performance in consumer branded wholesale and retail organizations in footwear and apparel. Most recently, he served as interim CEO of Spanx, Inc. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Collective Brands Performance & Lifestyle Group, a $1.1 billion leader in global branded performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel, which included the Saucony, Sperry Top-Sider, Keds and Stride Rite brands. Before joining Collective Brands, he was president, CEO and a member of the board of directors for Stuart Weitzman Holdings, a luxury women's fashion footwear company.
He also served as executive vice president and COO of Bennett Footwear Group, which, at the time, was one of the leading women's branded and private label fashion footwear companies in the U.S. He will be based in Crocs' new Global Commercial Center in suburban Boston, while also spending significant time at Crocs' offices in Niwot, Colo., as well as working with Crocs employees and customers around the world.
Andrew Rees will continue in his role as president and will report to Ribatt when he assumes his CEO role in late January. In addition to being CEO, Ribatt will continue to serve on the Crocs board of directors.
"Crocs is an incredible brand with excellent growth potential. In only 12 years, the team has built a billion-dollar global brand with distribution in more than 90 countries, and the Crocs brand continues to have meaningful growth potential in every market in which it competes," Ribatt said. "Over the last nine months, the team has done an exceptional job of working to position the brand and company for the future. My goal is to build on that strategic work while continuing to establish one of the best teams and cultures in the industry.
"I would like to thank Andrew Rees for his great work and leadership since he joined the company last spring as president," Ribatt continued. "I'm confident and excited for the future of the Crocs brand, and I look forward to working with Andrew and the team to help Crocs reach its full potential across the globe."