Senior Account Executive - Merrell

WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE INC; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (Merrell) is seeking a Senior Account Executive to drive business development across a portfolio of strategic and Tier 0 accounts, delivering revenue, profitability, and distribution objectives.

The role requires strong business acumen, fashion retail knowledge, and the ability to build partnerships across Merchandising, Sales Planning, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Product teams. Extensive travel (70%) is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of wholesale/retail/fashion/lifestyle industry experience, incl. managing strategic accounts.
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate metrics into growth.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of strategic and Tier 0 accounts, delivering revenue and distribution objectives.
• Lead business planning and seasonal growth strategies to drive account development.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Sales Planning, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Product teams.
• Develop and execute strategic sell‑in presentations using marketplace intelligence and analytics.
• Forecasting, inventory productivity, and analysis of key retail metrics.

Skills

Wholesale & retail

Fashion & footwear

Strategic selling

Negotiation

Joint business planning

Presenting to clients

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional influence

Communication

Time management

Retail metrics

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)

Job description

Merrell exists to share the simple power of being outside with everyone. We believe the 'outdoors' is a much broader space than just the mountain summit; it’s any space beyond your front door. Our mission is to help our community rethink the outdoors by building gear that works everywhere, from technical alpine ridges to urban city streets. We don't just follow the trail; we help define where it goes next.

We are a team that lives at the intersection of elite performance and modern style. Our history on the trail and commitment to innovation has made us the most awarded brand in the outdoor space. Recently, our MTL SpeedARC Peak won the prestigious ISPO Award for its breakthrough trail-racing tech, while the SpeedARC Surge BOA was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions for its modern, futuristic design and energy return. Whether it’s the Moab 3 being named “Best Hiking Shoe” by CNN Underscored and Popular Mechanics, or the Jungle Moc being recognized by HuffPicks as the gold standard for comfort, we are consistently recognized for building the most reliable, and most innovative, gear in the world.

The Senior Account Executive is responsible for driving business development and growth across a portfolio of strategic and Tier 0 accounts to achieve sales, profitability, and distribution objectives within the lifestyle marketplace. Develops strong customer relationships to promote product placement and long‑term growth, identifies marketplace opportunities, prospects and engages new customers, prepares strategic sales presentations, and manages key account partnerships. Possesses strong business acumen and a deep understanding of consumer behavior, fashion trends, and cultural influences that shape the marketplace.

Primary Duties:

• Manage and grow a portfolio of both existing and prospective strategic and Tier 0 accounts, delivering revenue, profitability, market share, and distribution objectives aligned with brand strategy.
• Lead business planning and seasonal growth strategies that drive mutual success and long‑term account development.
• Leverage marketplace, consumer, fashion, and cultural insights to identify opportunities and inform account‑specific business strategies.
• Identify and secure new business opportunities that support brand growth, strategic distribution, and marketplace expansion.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Merchandising, Sales Planning, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Product teams to deliver exceptional account execution and customer service.
• Develop and execute strategic sell‑in presentations, utilizing marketplace intelligence, retail analytics, assortment strategies, and product storytelling to influence purchasing decisions.
• Manage forecasting, inventory productivity, and business performance, analyzing key retail metrics to maximize profitable growth.
• Drive premium brand execution and marketplace presence through frequent market visits, merchandising excellence, brand activations, and customer engagement.
• Provide strategic business recommendations to leadership, leveraging marketplace insights, competitive intelligence, and distribution strategies to strengthen brand positioning and drive sustainable growth.
• Performing duties consistent with the Company’s AAP/EEO goals and policies.
• Performing other duties as required/assigned by manager.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of wholesale, retail, fashion, footwear, or lifestyle industry experience, including experience managing strategic or premium retail accounts.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong business partnerships.
• Strong business acumen with proven ability to analyze retail performance metrics and translate insights into growth strategies.
• Ability to build credibility and influence across customer organizations and internal cross functional teams.
• Skilled in strategic selling, negotiation, joint business planning, new account prospecting, and presenting.
• Deep understanding of fashion, sneaker, specialty, and lifestyle retail channels, consumer behavior, and market trends.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Self‑motivated and highly driven, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills with attention to detail.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (excel, PowerPoint) and other business planning tools.
• Working knowledge of retail financial metrics including gross margin, inventory turn, sell‑through, open‑to‑buy, markdowns, and forecasting.

Working Conditions:

Field sales environment. Extensive travel required (70%). Ability to push, pull and lift up to 50 lbs.

#LI-ND

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) is a global footwear and apparel company driven by a vision toMake. Every Day. Better.Founded in 1883, the Company builds and grows iconic brands including Merrell®, Saucony®, Wolverine®, Sweaty Betty®, Chaco®, Hush Puppies®, Stride Rite®, HYTEST®, and Bates®, along with footwear licenses for Cat® and Harley-Davidson®. Headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, the Company’s products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.wolverineworldwide.com.

In 2025, the Company was recognized by Footwear News as Company of the Year, by Forbes as one of America’s Dream Employers, America’s Best Employers for Women, and America’s Best Employers for Company Culture, and by Inspiring Workplaces as one of the Most Inspiring Workplaces Globally.

Wolverine Worldwide is a Certified™ Great Place To Work®.

Salary Minimum

$108,000.00

Salary Maximum

$141,750.00

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. is committed to creating a company that is as diverse as our consumers. We value the differences in one another and believe our differences make us stronger. Our diverse and inclusive corporate culture starts with the recruitment process. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We aim to create equal opportunities for our associates, customers, and suppliers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.