Wolverine Worldwide president and chief executive officer Chris Hufnagel took to the stage to accept the Company of the Year honor at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards in NYC on Wednesday.
“This award means the world to us,” Hufnagel said as he accepted the award from actor Jeff Daniels. “I’ll be first to admit this is a very big stage for our company. It’s an honor to be here, and I’m privileged to accept this award on behalf of our 3,000 associates around the world.”
In his remarks, the CEO admitted that like most century-old companies, Wolverine Worldwide had its own share of good times and tough times.
“846 days ago, we set out to imagine and build a new company with a vision to make every day better – centered squarely on building great global brands by creating awesome products, telling amazing stories and driving the business,” Hufnagel noted. “While tonight’s support is very special to us, we know it’s not the finish line, rather, another important milestone, a proof point for the work that we’re doing and a fitting close to an unbelievable chapter in our company’s long legacy.”
“We accept this recognition with great pride humility, but also with urgency, because the next chapter is already being written, and frankly, it’s the most important one,” he added.
Chris Hufnagel and Jeff Daniels at the 2025 Footwear News Achievement Awards held at Cipriani 25 Broadway on December 3, 2025 in New York, New York.
John Nacion
After a rapid transformation effort, the footwear giant is running full speed ahead thanks to boom times for its Saucony business.
Most recently in November, the Rockford, Mich.-based company said it ended the third quarter of fiscal 2025 with revenue of $470.3 million, up 6.8 percent from $440.2 million the same time last year. Net earnings in the quarter were $25.1 million, up from $23.2 million in the third quarter of 2024.
Behind the strong results in 2025 was a more focused brand-building model, most notably seen at Saucony, where sales increased 27 percent in the third quarter to $133.1 million; and at Merrell, which saw sales rise 5.1 percent to $167.3 million during the same time.
For 39 years, the annual FN Achievement Awards — often called the “Shoe Oscars” — have celebrated the style stars, best brand stories, ardent philanthropists, emerging talents and industry veterans. The 2025 event is supported by Caleres, Listrak, Nordstrom, Skechers, Vibram and Wolverine Worldwide.