DR. MARTENS APPOINTS LESLIE LANE AS PRESIDENT OF U.S. AND AMERICAS

Airwair International Ltd has appointed fashion veteran Leslie Lane as president of the U.S. and Americas, responsible for managing its Dr. Martens business in that region. He will join the company on January 28 and be based in Portland, Oregon.

Lane is currently CEO of Dakine Inc, one of a portfolio of action sports lifestyle brands owned by Altamont Capital Partners. His other experience includes eight years at Nike, Inc in a variety of executive positions, and eight years as a consultant at Bain & Co, Inc. He is a graduate of Oxford University, England and acquired an MBA at Harvard.

“We are thrilled to have appointed a seasoned executive with Leslie’s broad experience into this critical role. It was important to us that we found someone who combined genuine passion for our unique brand with a deep understanding of the region and markets to be able to maximize the opportunity that Dr. Martens has in the US & Americas region,” said Steve Murray, CEO at Airwair International Ltd.

Added Lane: “I am excited to have the opportunity to work for a brand that I have loved since my time growing up in England and have worn for nearly 40 years, and to be able to work with such a talented and passionate group of individuals both in the America’s and US region and around the world.”

Dr. Martens, which began in England in the early 1960s, is best known for its heavy boots, which has since become a staple of streetwear culture and has been favored by many musicians from Pete Townshend and Joe Strummer to Ellie Goulding.