Former Dr. Martens executive Darren McKoy has landed at Timberland.
In a LinkedIn post on Monday, McKoy announced he was joining VF Corp as global vice president of product design and creative direction at Timberland.
“This marks a meaningful return to VF, and the beginning of a new chapter with an iconic brand I’ve long admired for its roots and cultural legacy,” McKoy wrote. “I’ve been fortunate to work with heritage brands, shaping stories, building products, and collaborating with teams committed to connecting brand, consumer, and culture with purpose. I’m excited to carry my experiences and learnings into Timberland, and to contribute to what comes next.”
McKoy added: “I’m looking forward to working with the incredible people at Timberland and across VF, building toward the future together.”
FN has reached out to Timberland for comment.
McKoy announced his exit from Dr. Martens after 10 years with the UK-based shoe brand on social media in January. The executive said that he made the decision to exit the company early last year and to “embrace new opportunities and creative challenges.”
“It wasn’t an easy choice, as you can imagine, but I feel now is the right time to close this amazing chapter and start writing the next,” McKoy wrote at the time. “Dr. Martens will always be a part of me, and I’ll be cheering on the next chapter for this incredible brand and the next generation of wearers who will undoubtedly take it to new heights.”
McKoy rose to the role of global creative director at Dr. Martens in 2022 after serving over four years as global product category director, helping to lead the company’s design and product teams.
The footwear exec cut his teeth in the business while studying retail marketing management in Leeds, U.K. and received an early education in streetwear and brand curation at the men’s retailer Hip, also in Leeds.
Roles at several large British retailers soon followed before two major product positions as global product manager for Adidas Originals and Europe, Middle East and Africa product manager for The North Face. These roles led McKoy to join Asics Europe in 2012, where he served as category manager for Asics Tiger and Onitsuka Tiger until he joined Dr. Martens in 2015.