Dr Martens creative director hangs up his boots

Dr Martens is saying goodbye to its global creative director, Darren McKoy, after ten years with the company.

McKoy joined the Northamptonshire bootmaker in 2015 as global category manager for footwear and steadily rose through the ranks, becoming global creative director in 2021.

Before joining the firm, McKoy gained experience in various product management and category roles with companies including Asics, VF Corp, Adidas and Mamas & Papas.

McKoy, writing on social media platform LinkedIn, said: “A heartfelt thank you to Dr Martens for an incredible decade. Exactly 10 years to the week, I joined the brand at a time when it was ready to take bold risks. With an amazing set of passionate people—both long-standing and new—true brand ambassadors who shared an unwavering belief in its potential, we helped transform the business from a circa £136m company to a £1bn powerhouse.

“That journey has been nothing short of extraordinary and life-changing. Witnessing that growth and having the privilege to shape it as Product Director and then Creative Director has been an unforgettable and humbling experience. After much reflection, I made the decision early last year to step away and embrace new opportunities and creative challenges.

“I’m eternally grateful to everyone I’ve had the pleasure of working with—both inside the business and across our wider creative community with partners and friends. The 1460 boot will always hold a special place in my heart, and no matter where the road leads, the yellow stitch will forever be a symbol of resilience, rebellion, and everything we’ve built together.”

During his time at Dr Martens, the firm achieved a major milestone, reaching £1bn in revenue for the year ending March 2023.

The company has faced recent challenges, reporting a pre-tax loss of £28.7m for the half-year period ending 29 September 2024.

The poor performance has been attributed to rising costs and reduced demand, particularly in the US market.