Crocs Veteran Erinn Murphy to Lead Helly Hansen Finance and Operations, Joseph Alkire’s Role Expands

Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KTB), the global powerhouse behind iconic labels Lee and Wrangler, has announced a significant leadership addition to its expanding outdoor portfolio. Erinn Murphy, a seasoned executive with a deep background in consumer equity and corporate strategy, will join the company in early May as Vice President, Global Head of Finance and Operations for Helly Hansen, and Corporate Investor Relations.

In a move that underscores the brand's global ambitions, Murphy will relocate to Oslo, Norway, for an international assignment. There, she will serve as a core member of the Helly Hansen leadership team while simultaneously overseeing investor relations for the broader Kontoor Brands organization.

Murphy’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Helly Hansen as it looks to accelerate its global reach. Joe Alkire, Executive Vice President and CFO of Kontoor Brands, highlighted the dual-threat expertise Murphy brings to the table:

“Having led investor relations and corporate strategy from within a high-growth consumer brand and nearly twenty years of experience covering global lifestyle brands as a respected senior equity analyst, she understands what drives long-term value creation from every angle.”

In a parallel move, Alkire will now also take on global leadership responsibilities at Helly Hansen.

“Joe has been my strategic partner since the early stages of the acquisition, leveraging our collective experience in the outdoor category to shape the role Helly Hansen will play in Kontoor’s next phase of growth,” said Scott Baxter, president, CEO and chairman of the board of directors, in a statement. “There is no one better positioned to guide the Helly Hansen brand forward as we focus on creating broad-based momentum, positioning the brand to deliver strong revenue and profit growth over time.”

Murphy’s role is designed to bridge the gap between high-level financial strategy and boots-on-the-ground operations, ensuring Helly Hansen’s technical performance gear continues to scale in key international markets.

The Murphy Track Record

Murphy makes the jump to Kontoor from Crocs, Inc., where she was instrumental in the brand’s recent meteoric rise as Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy. Her resume is a "who's who" of retail and finance:

• Piper Sandler: Spent over a decade as Managing Director of Consumer Equity Capital Markets.

• Revolve Group, Inc.: Recently appointed to the Board of Directors, where she serves as the Audit Committee Chair.

• Industry Authority: Recognized as a leading voice in global lifestyle and apparel brand analysis for nearly two decades.

The timing of Murphy's arrival aligns with a transition period for current leadership. She will work alongside Michael Karapetian, Vice President of Global Brand & Operations Finance, who will help facilitate the handover before returning from his own international assignment in Oslo in the third quarter of 2026.

This leadership shuffle marks a clear intent from Kontoor Brands to solidify Helly Hansen—which joins Wrangler and Lee in the KTB stable—as a dominant force in the global outdoor and workwear segments.