Wolverine, Parent Company Of Saucony, Sperry, Closing MA Campus

WALTHAM, MA — Saucony, Sperry and Stride Rite employees will no longer be part of the workforce in the Boston metro by the end of the year.

Wolverine Worldwide, the parent company for those brands and, until recently, Keds, will close its Waltham office by the end of the year, consolidating its portfolio of brands into its Grand Rapids, Mich. headquarters, according to SGB Media.

This news came as officials were sharing second quarter 2023 results, and also after the company announced a new president and CEO in Chris Hufnagel.

"I would like to express my appreciation to our Chairman, Tom Long and the entire Board of Directors for their confidence in me. I’m truly honored to be the Company’s next CEO," said Hufnagel. "I’m confident that we have the right team and brand playbook to quickly improve the performance of the Company."

In recent months, the company has sold Keds and is looking for "strategic alternatives" for the Sperry brand.

"Our second half outlook, as reflected in our updated annual guidance, is disappointing but we are confident that the work we are undertaking will drive significant profit improvement in 2024 and quickly set a strong growth foundation for the Company," said Hufnagel.

"The current adversity has not only deepened our conviction that our strategic direction is more correct than ever, but that we must execute it with greater boldness and speed."

Wolverine has leased the Waltham office on Totten Pond Road since 2014.