Pentland Brands announces key leadership change for Americas

British sports and lifestyle brands giant Pentland Brands has announced major leadership moves with Joe Spies becoming President of its key Americas operation. It comes as Matt Rock steps down from the role after a 19-year tenure with the company.

Spies was formerly Senior Vice-President, Sales for Pentland Brands North America with the firm saying he’s “poised to steer the company into an exciting new chapter”.

He has over 17 years of “rich experience from his tenure at Converse, including his last role as Vice-President Wholesale for North America”. His expertise spans sales, merchandising, product and strategy and the company said his “strong market and commercial credentials make him the ideal leader to drive Pentland Brands’ vision and growth ambitions in the Americas”.

The company also praised the outgoing Rock whose career with the business started in 2005 when he joined as Sales Director for Ted Baker footwear, later advancing to MD of the brand. During his time at the group, he also became Global Supply Chain Director in 2015 and then President, Asia Pacific in 2018, where he led global supply chain and regional commercial teams. In 2022, he was also a major player in the integration of the Speedo North America business into Pentland Brands’ global operations and selecting a local leader for the Americas division.

Pentland said he’s known for his “warm and affable nature [and] leaves an indelible mark on the company’s culture, fostering strong and lasting relationships not only within his teams and colleagues but also with vendors, partners and retail customers”.