Bates® Footwear Expanding European Presence
Posted On Wednesday, January 26, 2011
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Julie McCauley
(616) 863‐3998
Bates® Footwear Expanding European Presence
Rockford, MI (January 2011) Bates Footwear, a leading footwear provider to the U.S. Military and Public Safety communities, is expanding their presence in Europe. Bates has already earned these category leading positions within the United States based on the brand’s emphasis of high performance, lightweight and athletic footwear technologies, such as iCS®, C3® and Ultra Lites®.
Bates’ expanded presence internationally positions the brand as a global provider of footwear to uniform communities worldwide.With the backing of its global parent company, Wolverine World Wide, Bates’ European operation will be based out of the Company’s London office in Kings Place. This office has been the Europe headquarters to other well known sister brands such as Merrell, Hush Puppies, and CAT Footwear.
To service this office regionally, Bates is pleased to announce the appointment of Gavin McLachlan, European Brand Manager. Gavin has worked previously for Gore-Tex® and CamelBak, brands that have targeted both military and tactical categories within Europe. Gavin joins Bates with over twenty five years of knowledge and experience in the European Military & Government tender business.
Ron Woznick, VP & GM for the Bates brand, noted “Bates has been very fortunate over the last 10 years to obtain industry leading positions through the launches of innovative footwear with both the U.S. Military and civilian uniform markets. We are excited to have Gavin join the Bates team and believe that his background uniquely qualifies him to strengthen the Bates brand and its performance in the European market.”
To Contact Gavin McLachlan directly:
Bates Footwear
Wolverine Europe Ltd
Kings Place
90 York Way
London, UK N1 9AG
Phone: +44 (0)207 860 0100
Email: gavin.mclachlan@wwwinc.com
About Bates Footwear
Founded in 1885 as a dress shoe manufacturer, today Bates® Footwear has become one of the most popular and preferred footwear brands in the US military, civilian uniform and law enforcement communities. The Bates brand is represented at each of the highly respected military academies and in some of the most selective and prestigious uniformed communities within the US: Tomb of Unknown Soldiers in Arlington National cemetery; Old Guard in Washington DC; as well as many Special Forces communities. The brand has emerged as a uniform market leader with its singular focus on providing innovative, performance footwear of the highest quality available. In 1969, Bates joined Wolverine World Wide, Inc. and is now headquartered in Rockford, Michigan. In addition to the US market leading position, the Bates brand is sold in more than 60 countries on six continents.For more information, visit www.batesfootwear.com.
About Wolverine World Wide
With a commitment to service and product excellence, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. is one of the world's leading marketers of branded casual, active lifestyle, work, outdoor sport and uniform footwear and apparel. The Company's portfolio of highly recognized brands includes: Bates®, Chaco®, Cushe®, Hush Puppies®, HYTEST®, Merrell®, Sebago® and Wolverine®. The Company is also the exclusive footwear licensee of the well-known brands, CAT®, Harley-Davidson® and Patagonia®. The Company's products are carried by leading retailers in the U.S. and globally in more than180 countries.
