16 Dec Leifer Retires as SG Companies’ CEO Feiner to Assume CEO Role on January 1, 2017
SG Companies, the 120-year-old company formerly known as S. Goldberg, is announcing the retirement of long time shoe veteran Bernie Leifer effective January 1, 2017. Leifer joined the company over 35 years ago and has been at the helm for over 30 years. Leifer named Matt Feiner, ex Reebok and Stride Rite, as his successor and will transition to the role of Chairman.
Over the years, the company has evolved into four strong operating divisions under the corporate umbrella of SG Companies: SG Footwear – children & adult footwear, SG Messer Group – adult seasonal footwear, SGI Apparel Group- children & adult sportswear & sleepwear, and Rugged Shark – a fishing/marine lifestyle footwear brand.
Feiner has over 25 years’ experience in the footwear industry. He most recently spent 6 years as SVP/GM of Stride Rite’s Wholesale Division, a division of Wolverine World Wide. Prior to Stride Rite, Feiner had an accomplished 19-year run at Reebok where he held several key leadership positions in sales, product, and merchandising, such as: Product Director Ralph Lauren Footwear, Group Director Reebok Sport Essentials Division, VP Reebok Kids Division, and VP Reebok US Merchandising.
“Matt has a proven track record of success throughout his career, and we are thrilled to have him now at SG Companies”, says Leifer. “He is very sales and product driven, and he has a strong background working for very structured companies with lots of systems, SG is at a point where that experience is needed”, added Leifer.
Feiner added, “Bernie is leaving the company in a very healthy place. We’ve had a strong year in 2016 and we’re well positioned for growth in 2017” stated Feiner. “My primary goal will be to make sure we don’t miss a beat”, stated Feiner.
About SGCompanies
S.Goldberg was established in 1896 as a domestic manufacturer in Hackensack, NJ, which changed its corporate name to SGFootwear in 2002. SGCompanies was recently formed as the parent company to SGFootwear, SGMesser Group, SGI Apparel Group and Rugged Shark. SGFootwear and SGMesser have high-profile brands including Dockers, IZOD, Chinese Laundry, Perry Ellis, Signature and dENiZEN by Levi Strauss & Co., Panama Jack, PJ Masks, Despicable Me, Sesame Street to name a few. SGI Apparel provides apparel to the mass, mid-tier, and specialty markets. SGI Apparel is the exclusive Harley-Davidson licensee for children’s apparel and footwear domestically and internationally. In addition to Harley-Davidson, SGI Apparel holds rights to LEGO, LEGO Ninjago Movie, LEGO Batman Movie, Warner Bros. and others. For more information, visit our website at www.thesgcompanies.com