SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brooks Running Company today announced Jim Weber will step down as Chief Executive Officer after 23 years in the position. Dan Sheridan, who currently serves as President and Chief Operating Officer, will become Brooks’ next CEO, effective April 26, 2024.
Weber, who joined Brooks’ Board of Directors in 1999 and was named CEO in 2001, established Brooks’ long-term strategy and focus on performance run, leading the team to steadily execute against the brand’s purpose for more than two decades. As a result, over Weber’s tenure Brooks grew from the verge of bankruptcy to a billion-dollar brand and a leader in the highly competitive global running category.
“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as Brooks CEO for the past 23 years. I am incredibly proud of all Brooks has accomplished in my time here, the foundations we’ve built, and the position Brooks is in to continue its growth in 2024 and beyond,” said Weber. “Dan’s 25-year journey at Brooks has prepared him well for the CEO role. In addition to his broad-ranging functional expertise, Dan consistently leads with a customer-first mindset and people-centric operating mode, which have always been a success formula for Brooks.”
Sheridan will take the helm as a proven Brooks leader, with past leadership roles across many disciplines and a track record for cross-functional success. Joining Brooks in 1998, he was named COO in 2019 and promoted to President and COO in 2022. In recent years Sheridan drove the evolution of Brooks’ strategy, scaling its business model, guiding the business’ supply chain and operations, and accelerating the brand’s digital transformation to adeptly navigate headwinds and execute Brooks’ multichannel strategy to reach runners where they shop.
“I have had the greatest opportunity to work and learn alongside Jim for most of my career at Brooks,” said Sheridan. “Together with the rest of our global team, we’ve created a great business, a winning workplace culture, and a brand that matters to runners and partners all over the world. I’m humbled and excited to lead the Brooks team and look forward to building on our momentum.”
Brooks was established as a standalone Berkshire Hathaway Inc. operating subsidiary by Warren Buffett in 2012 and has flourished under the leadership of Weber and the Brooks team. Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Greg Abel offered his support for this next leadership chapter for Brooks.
“Jim and the Brooks team have done an exceptional job building a meaningful business and brand,” said Abel. “Dan's journey and leadership ensures a continued path of success.”
Brooks’ investment in developing a strong team, a compelling workplace culture, and thoughtful succession plans has resulted in a deep bench of talent. In addition to Sheridan’s appointment to CEO, Matt Dodge, Vice President, Managing Director of Brooks International, will become President and COO, effective Aug. 1, 2024. Dodge will return to the brand’s global headquarters in Seattle after growing Brooks’ business and team in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific and Latin America (APLA) regions for the past five years. Dodge joined Brooks in 2013 as Associate General Counsel and has served as VP General Counsel, VP of HR, and Managing Director of Brooks International in his decade-long career at Brooks. His intentional approach to building integrated, customer-focused plans across disciplines, teams, and regions will serve Brooks well as he leads Brooks’ global growth. A new Amsterdam-based leader for Brooks’ EMEA business will be announced in the coming months.
Several other leadership appointments have strengthened Brooks’ organization in recent months to support global growth. Carson Caprara, who joined the brand in 2005, was promoted to Senior Vice President of Footwear in May 2023 to lead all footwear design, development, product management, and merchandising. Christophe Mahaut was also promoted in May 2023 to Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Operations to lead global operations and strengthen Brooks’ end-to-end systems from factory to customer. In early 2024, Brooks named Gabriel Rodriguez as its new VP of Apparel and Accessories to lead all design, development, product management, and merchandising for Brooks’ global apparel business, while Katie Carlson, who joined Brooks’ HR team in 2012, was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer to further the brand’s investment in its employees and workplace culture.
About Brooks Running
Brooks Running creates market-leading performance running footwear, apparel, sports bras, and accessories distributed worldwide. Brooks’ purpose is to inspire everyone to run and be active by creating the best gear, tools, and experiences. Founded in 1914, the company continues to deliver accelerated product innovation and engagement with runners, walkers, and everyone who is active. Brooks is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Visit www.brooksrunning.com for more information or follow @brooksrunning.
