Pensole prepares for growth after Foot Locker investment
25/03/2019
Stephen Green has been charged with leading the group’s expansion. With a background in banking and venture capital, he has also long been an advocate for small business, particularly those run by women or people of colour. He is also an avid sneaker collector.
Discussing Mr Green’s appointment, Pensole founder D’Wayne Edwards said: "I've always admired his sense of business. I've always known in the back of my mind when the option came for him to be part of Pensole that I would try to grab him as quick as I could."
Athletic footwear specialist Foot Locker announced in January it had invested $2 million in Pensole. Mr Edwards has said the company plans to hire four or five more employees by the end of the year. It currently employs 15 people, around double the number of a year ago.
Mr Green’s main role will be to help Pensole adjust to its increasing size. His work will include collaborations with major brands and assisting with the launch of Pensole’s own line of footwear. This is expected to start later this year, with the revenue raised from selling these products helping to fund places for students.
Mr Green said the opportunity to set a good example for his three young children was a key motivation for taking this position. He explained: "My wife and I had a conversation months ago about what was important to us. I want to show my kids that they can be anything they want to be. I want my kids to be able to hang out with these folks. I know what it means to a young person to see somebody who looks like you doing something different than what you might read about in the newspaper or see on TV."
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