US firm Kontoor Brands names Karen Smith as executive VP, supply chain

23 Apr '21

2 min read

Pic: Kontoor Brands

Kontoor Brands has announced the appointment of Karen Smith as executive vice president of supply chain, effective May 1, 2021. Kontoor Brands is a lifestyle apparel company, with a portfolio led by two iconic consumer brands, Wrangler and Lee. Kontoor designs, manufactures and distributes superior high-quality products that look good and fit right.

Smith will be responsible for all aspects of supply chain management including global operations, planning, global manufacturing and sourcing, responsible sourcing, product quality and stewardship, customer service, distribution, and logistics and master data governance. She will also have responsibility for all components of the company’s supply chain strategy, including trade-related functions and operations. She also serves as the North America inclusion & diversity council chair. As a member of the company’s executive leadership team, she will report to Kontoor’s president and chief executive officer, Scott Baxter, according to a press release by Kontoor.

Smith currently serves as vice president of global supply chain operations, a role she assumed after Kontoor’s 2019 spinoff from VF Corporation. At VF, she held several positions, including vice president of supply chain for jeanswear, imagewear, sportswear and Timberland, and vice president of global supply chain operations for Timberland. Prior to that, she spent nine years at Jockey International, where she rose to the level of vice president of operations, Kontoor said.

Smith succeeds Randy Fortenberry, who has announced his intent to retire at the end of April 2021 after more than 30 years of serving VF and Kontoor’s supply chain organisations.

“Smith brings extensive experience across all aspects of responsible and efficient supply chain management. More importantly, she’s a proven leader with a talent for building and motivating teams along with a deep commitment to Kontoor’s culture. She’s a perfect fit for this critical role. The fact that global supply chain management has been a true competitive differentiator for our brands over the years is in large part a tribute to Fortenberry’s vision and leadership. He’s made huge contributions to our business and success, and we wish him and his family all the best in the years to come,” Baxter said in a statement.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (GK)

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