On October 2, VF Corporation, the American conglomerate that boasts ownership of iconic fashion brands such as Supreme, Vans, The North Face, and Timberland, welcomed An Claes to the role of Vice President overseeing supply chain operations in the EMEA region, encompassing Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Ms. Claes commenced her duties in early October and directly reports to VF Corp’s Executive Vice President of Global Supply Chain, Cameron Bailey. Her appointment follows Stuart Pond’s transition to the position of Vice President of Global Supply Chain Platforms.
In a statement, Claes conveyed her dedication to leveraging her substantial experience and consumer-centric approach to enhance VF’s supply chain operations, foster innovation, meet consumer expectations, and actively contribute to the company’s enduring success.
An Claes, originally from Belgium, holds a degree in commercial and supply chain engineering from KU Leuven University. She specializes in supply chain transformation and brings a wealth of experience. Her professional journey includes roles as a business consultant at Accenture in Brussels, Vice President of Planning and Procurement at Nike, a tenure spanning fourteen years from August 2003 to July 2018, and subsequent service as Vice President of Operations at Johnson & Johnson, from August 2018 to September 2023.
VF Group, established in 1899 and under the leadership of Bracken Darrell since June, faces a series of multifaceted challenges, including streamlining its supply chain in the post-Covid era, addressing declining sales of its Vans sneaker brand in the US market, and strategically managing the future of its Supreme label, a prominent acquisition in 2020.
