Cheryl Abel-Hodges
WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE INC /DE/About Cheryl Abel‑Hodges
Independent director (appointed July 1, 2025) with 30+ years in brands, merchandising, and omnichannel retail. Currently CEO of Tommy John (since 2023); former CEO of Calvin Klein at PVH. Age 61; B.A., University at Albany. Joined Wolverine Worldwide’s Board Audit Committee as an independent director; no related‑party transactions disclosed at appointment .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tommy John, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | 2023–present | Leads a comfort-focused lifestyle brand; brings omnichannel operating expertise |
| PVH Corp. / Calvin Klein | CEO, Calvin Klein; previously Group President CK North America & The Underwear Group | 2019–2021 (CEO); advisory through Feb 2022; with PVH since 2006 | Led global brand and North America businesses; stepped down to advisory July 2021; departed PVH Feb 28, 2022 |
| PVH Corp. | Appointed CEO, Calvin Klein (press release) | June 2019 | Successor to prior CK CEO; long operating track record at PVH |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haworth, Inc. (private) | Director | Current | Private company board service disclosed at WWW appointment |
| Public company boards | — | None disclosed | No public directorships listed in WWW 8‑K/press release |
Board Governance
- Independence: Classified as an independent director upon appointment; no Item 404 related‑party transactions disclosed .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member (not Chair) .
- Tenure on WWW board: Appointed July 1, 2025 .
- Meeting attendance: WWW expects directors to attend all Board/committee meetings; in 2024, all directors met at least 75% attendance. Cheryl joined mid‑2025; individual 2025 attendance not yet disclosed .
- Governance norms: Independent Chair; fully independent committees; annual self‑assessments and majority voting with resignation policy .
Fixed Compensation
Standard non‑employee director compensation framework (per 2025 Proxy; new directors receive the same program unless noted otherwise):
| Component | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $80,000 | 2025 Proxy |
| Audit Committee annual fee (member) | $15,000 | 2025 Proxy |
| Compensation & Human Capital Committee annual fee (member) | $12,000 | 2025 Proxy |
| Governance Committee annual fee (member) | $12,000 | 2025 Proxy |
| Chairman of the Board cash retainer (in lieu of standard retainer) | $145,000 | 2025 Proxy |
Notes:
- The July 8, 2025 8‑K states Cheryl will receive non‑employee director compensation “as described” in the 2025 proxy; grant timing/proration for mid‑year appointments not specified in the 8‑K .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Instrument | Typical Annual Grant Value | Vesting | Performance Linkage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | $145,000 (Chairman: $255,000) | One‑year vest from grant date; settlement deferral optional under plan | None (time‑based RSUs only) |
Additional policies:
- Director deferred compensation plan allows voluntary cash fee deferrals into stock units; distributions in stock per elected schedule .
- Clawback and misconduct forfeiture provisions apply to awards per company policy and plan terms .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to WWW | Interlock / Transaction |
|---|---|---|
| Haworth, Inc. (private) | Unrelated industry (furnishings) | No related‑party transactions with WWW disclosed at appointment |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Brand building and merchandising: Led Calvin Klein globally and North American operations; currently CEO of Tommy John .
- Omnichannel/retail operations and P&L leadership: Long‑tenured PVH executive; CEO roles with direct eCommerce and wholesale oversight .
- Governance and audit oversight: Appointed to WWW Audit Committee, aligning operating and financial literacy with audit responsibilities .
- Education: B.A., University at Albany .
Equity Ownership
- WWW equity: Not disclosed in the 2025 Proxy (ownership table as of March 3, 2025, pre‑appointment). Post‑appointment ownership and any Form 4 filings were not included in the cited documents. Director stock ownership guidelines require non‑employee directors to hold equity equal to 6x the annual cash retainer within five years; qualifying equity includes owned shares and time‑vested RSUs (capped at 50% of requirement) .
Governance Assessment
Strengths
- Independence and clean conflicts screen at appointment; no related‑party transactions; independent Audit Committee assignment supports board risk and financial oversight .
- Deeply relevant brand/retail operating expertise aligning with WWW’s portfolio and growth priorities; adds omnichannel and product/marketing depth to Audit oversight .
- Alignment mechanisms: Director equity grants and robust ownership guideline (6x retainer) create meaningful skin‑in‑the‑game over time .
Watch‑items / potential conflicts
- External executive role: Concurrent CEO position at Tommy John (private apparel/lifestyle). While no transactions were disclosed and independence affirmed, monitor for competitive overlaps, related‑party dealings, or time‑commitment concerns in future filings .
- Attendance and engagement: Individual attendance for 2025 not yet disclosed; verify in 2026 Proxy. Board‑wide standard is 75%+ and 2024 compliance was universal .
Contextual shareholder signals
- Say‑on‑pay support: 94% approval in 2024—constructive backdrop for governance and investor relations as she joins the Board .
Policies reinforcing investor alignment
- Prohibitions on hedging and pledging of Company stock for all directors/officers .
- Broad clawback of incentive compensation upon material restatement; award‑level forfeiture for misconduct .