VF Corp. promoted Brendan Sullivan to president of sportswear, a position that will oversee the company’s marquee Nautica brand, as well as its lightweight bag line Kipling.
Sullivan worked previously as vice president, direct-to-consumer, for VF and is replacing Karen Murray in the sportswear role. After 10 years in the position, Murray will now be senior brand adviser to the company’s sportswear section.
“[Brendan] understands the power of the Nautica and Kipling Brands,” said Curt Holtz, VF’s president of imagewear, jeans and sportswear. “His experience in today’s dynamic in-store and online consumer environment provide him with an ideal skill set to lead and grow VF’s sportswear organization.”
Murray added that with Sullivan’s experience with the direct-to-consumer side of the business, he will “accelerate” Nautica and Kipling’s growth in that arena.
After joining VF in 2007, Sullivan became the company’s vice president of retail services and moved on to the direct-to-consumer position, where he led VF’s contemporary and Timberland brands, as well as its European business.