Dr. Martens Plc has revealed a significant shift in its leadership structure with the appointment of Ije Nwokorie as the new Chief Brand Officer for Dr. Martens, effective from 1st February 2024. Nwokorie, who currently serves as a Non-Executive Director, will relinquish his board position and committee memberships to fully embrace this newly-created role.
As Chief Brand Officer, Nwokorie will be an integral part of Dr. Martens’ global leadership team, directly reporting to CEO Kenny Wilson. His responsibilities will encompass overseeing Global Marketing, Product, and Strategy functions. This role is crafted to establish and guide the brand’s strategy, vision, and direction, marking a crucial phase in the brand’s growth trajectory.
Nwokorie’s journey to this position is marked by his significant experience in brand development and leadership. He joins Dr. Martens from Apple Inc, where he has made substantial contributions as the Senior Director of Apple Retail since January 2018. Before his stint at Apple, Nwokorie spent 11 years at Wolff Olins, a global brand consultancy, culminating in his role as CEO. His leadership extended across offices in key global cities – San Francisco, London, Dubai, and New York. Adding to his profile, Nwokorie is also the Chair of the non-profit organisation charity: water UK.
Commenting on the appointment, Paul Mason, Chair of Dr. Martens, expressed his confidence in Nwokorie, stating, “Ije has been a tremendous Non-Executive Director since he joined the Board in January 2021. He has deep insight and understanding of brands and has extensive global DTC experience. I am delighted that he’ll be joining the leadership team as Chief Brand Officer, a role for which he is perfectly suited.”
Echoing this sentiment, Kenny Wilson, CEO of Dr. Martens, highlighted Nwokorie’s unique qualities, saying, “Ije is a visionary brand storyteller and this, along with his infectious passion for Dr. Martens, makes him the ideal person to lead the next era of our brand development. I am delighted that he will be joining my team in a permanent full-time position of Chief Brand Officer, which will be a crucial role to enable us to become a £2bn revenue brand.”
Nwokorie himself expressed enthusiasm about his new role, noting, “I’ve always loved Dr. Martens and it’s been a real privilege getting to know the brand from the inside as a Non-Executive Director. Dr. Martens is defined by its rebellious, authentic and creative nature, all of which makes me really excited to be joining Kenny and the team early in the new year and to get to work.”
