Chip Coe joins NFW to lead Sales and Corporate Business Development

Peoria, IL – For Immediate Release 

Chip Coe has been named the Chief Corporate Development and Sales Officer for NFW. The former Wolverine Worldwide executive will be tasked with building the organization’s sales and business development functions.  

NFW is a platform for plastic-free performance materials spanning sheet goods, textiles, molded composites, and foams. MIRUM® by NFW is the only high-performance, plastic-free alternative to leather. PLIANT™ outsoles are naturally cured, USDA-certified 100% biobased outsoles. NFW’s CLARUS® turns natural fibers into performance fabrics. TUNERA™ is first-in-kind plastic-free foam. Coe will be leading the company’s outreach to markets including footwear, accessories, apparel, upholestery and automobiles.  

“Chip brings decades of relevant industry experience, deep relationships and a track record of developing the culture of winning teams,” said NFW President Steve Zika. “We could not be more excited that he has made the decision to join us.”   

Coe is a respected change agent having been called on to rejuvenate brands while meeting significant growth targets and optimizing the bottom line. Coe most recently served as Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Investments for Wolverine Worldwide. Before that he served as Global President for Cat Footwear, the most international brand in the Wolverine Worldwide portfolio. He also served as President of Chaco Footwear twice in his 13-year career with the company. First, from 2010-2015 when the brand first exploded, with revenue tripling under Coe’s leadership in that time, then again from 2019-2020. In between he led Wolverine’s global efforts in the EMEA region from 2015-2018, which comprised more than  300 employees and more than $335 million in revenue.  

“I am delighted to be joining the talented and passionate team at NFW,” said Coe. “I have been committed to natural materials since my days at Smartwool, and NFW raises the ante significantly and has a real chance to impact the world in a very positive and meaningful way.” 

NFW will also benefit from Coe’s s early career experience with startups. He led Smartwool over a seven-year period, taking the company from a domestically-focused, 15-employee start-up with $13 million in revenues to a globally-focused, 50+ employee enterprise with revenues exceeding $55 million. 

Before taking the lead at Smartwool, Coe started his career as an attorney focused on mergers and acquisitions, after earning a Juris Doctor from University of Michigan Law School. He has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business. Chip resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is married to Dr. Jeanne Eyde and they have five children.   

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About NFW

NFW is a platform for plastic-free performance materials spanning sheet goods, textiles, molded composites, and foams. NFW follows three ground rules in everything they develop: start well, stay clean, and end well. The multi-material platform serves a wide range of industries, from fashion and footwear to automotive and upholstery. NFW technology seamlessly embeds into existing supply chains, enabling the world’s most iconic brands to design and scale products with high-performance, naturally circular materials. NFW makes global brands more sustainable, empowering them to create without plastics. Alongside the boldest brands and visionary designers, NFW is pioneering a post-linear, post-oil economy. For more information, visit https://www.nfw.earth/.

Annie M. Cull
NFW
+1 309-561-4680
Annie.Cull@nfw.earth