Change of leadership at Gore-Tex Footwear
21/01/2009
After 27 years at the head of Gore-Tex Footwear, Thorger Hübner is retiring. Mr Hübner, who will continue to work for the company in a consulting role, is being replaced by Christian Langer, 39, who has been in charge of business operations at Gore-Tex Footwear since November 1. Norbert Ebster, 56, continues to be responsible for global sales and expansion, while the European business is now being co-ordinated by Klaus Schirl, 50.
Christian Langer has worked in various roles at W.L. Gore & Associates for over 10 years. For the last two years he has headed the worldwide operations of Gore-Tex Footwear with Thorger Hübner.
On taking up his new appointment, he said: "I am looking forward to this challenge. With our leading brand partners, a motivated team and the enormously exciting innovations that we have in the pipeline, we are in an excellent position to cope with turbulent market conditions, to come out of the current crisis stronger than ever, and to continue to pursue consistent growth. Alongside the outdoor segment, which continues to expand, we believe that the casual, lifestyle and running segments still hold enormous growth potential. In addition to this, regional expansion in emerging markets such as eastern Europe and China is high on our agenda.”
Thorger Hübner, in partnership with companies such as Meindl, Lowa und Scarpa, introduced the first Gore-Tex footwear to the marketplace at the beginning of the 1980s.
Now, every year, in over 160 certified production facilities worldwide, more than 20 million pairs of Gore-Tex shoes are made.
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