Allbirds names new VP of design

Sustainable footwear and apparel brand Allbirds Inc. has announced the appointment of Jason Israel as VP of design, effective June 1. Israel reports to chief design officer, Adrian Nyman.

With some two decades of design experience, Israel joins Allbirds from French footwear brand Salomon, where he served as global creative director. Previously, Israel spent a cumulative eight years at Specialized Bicycle Components, most recently serving as head of global design, and five years at The North Face, most recently serving as global creative director of performance.

Earlier in his career, he was a designer of apparel, gloves and bags for K2 Sports.

Nyman and Israel – alongside the recent addition of a new color and materials leader, Ailsa Cordon-Michell, formerly of The North Face and Burberry – are tasked with further strengthening Allbirds’s product team, “focused on championing and elevating its design culture,” according to a press release from the San Francisco-based company.

“We are thrilled to have Jason join our design team at this pivotal time for Allbirds, when product and storytelling are paramount to our return to growth,” said Joe Vernachio, CEO of Allbirds.

“He is already bringing a passion for beautiful and innovative design to the business. We look forward to benefiting from his expertise as we focus on our new product strategy that builds upon Allbirds’ core product franchises.”

Earlier this year, Allbirds announced it had signed definitive agreements with distributors in the Gulf countries and Southeast Asia, as the U.S. footwear firm shifts from direct go-to-market to third-party distribution in the regions.