Footasylum has announced strategic appointments to its leadership team.
- Will Van Rensburg joins as Chief Commercial Officer, bringing extensive experience from Under Armour and Clarks.
- Glen Wilkinson is appointed as Senior Buying Director, with a robust background at Reebok, Ecco, and AW LAB.
- The appointments follow David Pujolar’s CEO role and a significant financial performance boost.
- The company aims to leverage new leadership for continued growth and market strengthening.
Footasylum has strategically enhanced its leadership team, announcing new appointees poised to lead the company towards sustained growth and innovation. The announcement includes the appointment of former Under Armour executive, Will Van Rensburg, as the Chief Commercial Officer. Rensburg transitions into this role following his tenure at Clarks, where he was a senior vice president overseeing commercial operations since September 2023. His previous eight-year tenure at Under Armour, culminating in his role as Global Commercial Director, further solidifies his expertise in commercial strategy.
Rensburg’s appointment is accompanied by Glen Wilkinson’s entry as Senior Buying Director. Wilkinson, who is set to collaborate closely with Chief Product Officer Leon Mullin, holds substantial experience from senior positions at Ecco, Reebok, and New Balance, the latter being his role as the head of buying and merchandising at AW LAB since 2020. These appointments are indicative of Footasylum’s strategic vision to bolster its commercial and product operations.
This leadership restructuring follows the appointment of David Pujolar as CEO in March, underscoring a period of transformation and achievement for Footasylum. The company reported a remarkable financial upturn, with pre-tax profits doubling to £6 million and an overall revenue increase of 7% to £319.5 million for the year ending 27 January 2024. This success was largely driven by a 15% surge in online revenue, rising to £134.9 million, alongside an impressive 87% growth in wholesale sales, which reached £16.8 million.
David Pujolar expressed enthusiasm about the appointments, highlighting the diverse experience and geographical knowledge that Rensburg and Wilkinson bring to Footasylum. “Their extensive experience across a range of companies and geographies will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our position in the market,” Pujolar remarked, underscoring the strategic importance of these leadership roles.
Rensburg articulated his commitment to deepening Footasylum’s brand partnerships and enhancing the company’s market offerings. “Footasylum has established trusted relationships with its brand partners and I look forward to expanding and deepening these partnerships as we enhance our offerings across the UK and beyond,” he stated. In parallel, Wilkinson recognised the company’s reputation within urban style consumer communities, asserting his intent to drive innovation and uphold Footasylum’s growth trajectory both online and in-store.
Footasylum’s recent leadership enhancements are set to drive further growth and solidify its market standing.
