"Sustainability is a responsibility that every CEO has to worry about. I'm a third generation entrepreneur. Sustainability is a recognition that our business and our brand comes from someplace and goes to someplace. An actual responsibility, a physical responsibility, a sprititual responsibility and finally, a financial responsibility." -- Jeff Swartz
CEO In Transition
Jeff Swartz is the third generation of the Swartz family to lead Timberland. His grandfather Nathan started the predecessor company to Timberland in 1952. Jeff's father Sidney and his uncle Herman launched the Timberland brand in the early 1970s. Jeff was promoted to President and CEO in 1998, after working in virtually every functional area of the company since 1986. Under Jeff's leadership, Timberland has grown rapidly.
Timberland today competes in countries around the world, designing, manufacturing and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. For many years Timberland has been one of the 100 Best Companies To Work For in America and one of the Best Places to Work by Working Mother magazine. They have been listed on Business Ethics list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens and in 2002, Timberland received the Ron Brown Award, a Presidential award recognizing outstanding corporate leadership in social responsibility.
Jeff is one of 19 founding CEOs selected for President Bush's task force on national service called Business Strengthening America. He is on the board of directors for the Climate Group, Share Our Strength, Honest Tea, City Year, the Harlem Children's Zone and Limited Brands, Inc. In addition, Jeff is a member of the World Economic Forum and the Two/Ten Foundation, an organization providing charitable funds and services to individuals in the footwear industry. In 2002, he received the Two/Ten Foundation's T. Kenyon Holly Memorial Award for Humanitarian Achievement.
Jeff received an MBA from Dartmouth in 1984, and a BA in Comparative Literature from Brown in 1982.
