10 Things You Didn’t Know About VF Corporation CEO Steven Rendle
Steven Rendle is the CEO of the VF Corporation. VF is one of the larger apparel and footwear companies in the nation. He brings to the job a long history and proven track record for leadership within the industry. We looked into his history and career and made some interesting discoveries about him that we’d like to share. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about Steven Rendle that will help you become more familiar with who his is and his significant contributions to the people and businesses within his circle.
1. He has an interesting college degree
Steven Rendle attended college at the University of Washington. He studied in the Kinesiology program and graduated with his bachelor of science degree in the discipline. Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of movements of the body. When you think about it, this knowledge is perfect for establishing a working knowledge of how apparel and footwear designs best compliment the natural movements of the body when it comes to a comfortable fit.
2. He works for a company over a century old
Steve Rendle leads a company that has an established history in the retail apparel and footwear industry. VF has been in existence for 119 years. it has survived by transforming their operations to meet the changing trends in customer demands. Mr. Rendle is well aware of how this principle works and he is one of the instigators of change within the company.
3. Rendle understands consumer behavior trends well
Recently, Steven Rendle was interviewed and asked to share his opinions on the trajectory that VF will take n the future. He responded and simply stated that they need to change. He understands well that consumers move quickly and just as society is constantly changing around them, so are the people who buy apparel and footwear. Their preferences and needs are constantly changing and keeping on top of precisely what these changes are going to e in advance of them happening is part of the necessity for planning and building a successful strategy to meet those demands.
4. He didn’t start with VF at the top
When Rendle joined the VF corporation it was at their NorthFace subsidiary in 1999 where he was the President of the North Face company. He continually worked his way up in the company at VF for 16 years before his career path led him to become the CEO of the VF company. He learned a lot along the way through various management and leaderships roles which all helped to adequately prepare him to take the helm at the company. In addition to serving the United States, VF is a global supply chain with locations and coalitions throughout the entire world.
5. His input is highly valued
Not just anyone is invited to sit on the board as an adviser of a major corporation. Steven Rendle serves on the Board of Directors for the Retail Industry Leaders of Association as well as on the Advanced Functional Fabrics of America, Inc. board. His insights into the industry and within particular niches is greatly valued by other leaders who consider his input when making big decisions regarding their companies.
6. Steven Rendle is a multi-millionaire
When we looked into Mr. Rendle’s net worth, we were not surprised to learn that his current net worth is estimated to be standing at a minimum of $34.2 million. His annual compensation as Executive Chairman of the Board at VRC along with his other duties as Chief Executive Officer and President at VF is $13,736,700.
7. He owns a lot of stock in VF
We also learned that a part of the compensation package that Mr. Rendle receives as the leader of VF is in stock shares awarded. As of early 2019, he owns a minimum of 65,988 units of stock with VF and the estimated value of these stocks stands at $20,458,375. A scan of the records shows that he hasn’t traded any of the VFC stock.
8. He established a foundation
Steven Rendel is one of the founding board members of the Outdoor Industry’s Outdoor Foundation. He’s big into outdoor apparel and spent many years of his career in this niche. He’s also concerned with the environment. The Mountain Institute awarded Steve the Exemplary Corporate Stewardship of Mountains Award in 2007 in recognition of the efforts that he has made to ensure that the companies he is in charge of are considerate of processes that leave the smallest possible carbon footprint.
9. He’s not afraid to take risks
In a candid interview Steven Rendel talked about what makes a leader of any large corporation successful. He talked about the word risk and acknowledged that for many it is a scary word, but it isn’t to him. When he joined North Face in 1999, he left behind a job that was very comfortable for a company that was losing money and struggling to make it. Friends and family didn’t understand what motivated him to take such a chance but he believed that it was a chance to grow and to learn as well as to make improvements in a company that needed the help.
10. He’s a native of Washington State
Steven Rendel grew up in the city of Spokane, Washington. He graduated with his bachelors from the University of Washington. He revealed that he learned some valuable life lessons in the area. He was a member of a Boy Scouts troop that presented him with the difficult challenge of rock climbing and it was during this time that he learned how to push himself past what he had previously been capable of doing. he learned how to manage discomfort in the fact of taking risks or engaging in something new. These lessons stuck with him for life and it’s part of the reason why he is such a dynamic leader today.
