Kate Vacovec to lead global commercial finance at Dr. Martens

UK footwear brand Dr. Martens has announced the appointment of Kate Vacovec as global commercial finance director. Vacovec will join the company in early October 2026 from US restaurant company Yum! Brands.

Vacovec brings nearly 15 years of experience from her time at Yum! Brands, where she worked across several senior finance and broader business positions. Most recently, Vacovec served as chief financial officer of Pizza Hut’s international operating markets.

Throughout her tenure at Yum! Brands, Vacovec demonstrated a track record of supporting top and bottom-line growth. She brings international experience in business analysis, strategy, financial planning and business development across Asia, Europe and North America, having lived and worked in the US, Thailand and the UK.

In her new role, Vacovec will lead the global commercial finance team at Dr. Martens and report directly to Giles Wilson, chief financial officer (CFO) of the brand. She will partner closely with Mike Stopforth, chief commercial officer; Paul Zadoff, president of the Americas; and market general managers to drive the commercial strategy of the company. Vacovec will also join the leadership team at Dr. Martens.

Wilson said: “Kate’s broad range of experience and skills will be a hugely valuable addition to Dr. Martens. She has a first-class reputation as an energetic leader with a proven ability to drive growth for global consumer brands. We are thrilled to have Kate join us and look forward to her being part of our team.”

Founded in Northamptonshire, England, Dr. Martens operates in more than 60 countries and employs approximately 3,600 people globally. The brand distributes its collections through direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels, including retail and e-commerce, as well as wholesale partners.