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Dr. Martens CEO Ije Nwokorie has bought more than £85,000 worth of shares in the footwear brand following a rise in its full-year profits.
A London Stock Exchange filing showed Nwokorie has purchased 112,500 ordinary shares at 76.1p each, taking the total value of the transaction to around £85,600.
Nwokorie took over leadership of the bootmaker in 2024 after previously serving as chief brand officer for the group.
A separate filing also showed that Nwokorie and chief financial officer Giles Wilson had increased their holdings through the Dr. Martens’ share incentive plan. The two executives each purchased 202 partnership shares at 74.37p on 11 June.
The all-employee scheme allows staff to buy shares from their monthly salary, with the company providing matching shares – a move that signals executive confidence after a 61% rise in adjusted pre-tax profits.
Last month, Dr. Martens reported a 61.3% increase in profits to £55m for the year ended 29 March 2026, as consumer demand toward shoe silhouettes grew by 19% during the period.
Though revenues fell by 2.9% to £764.9m, this met its financial guidance by prioritising the “quality of revenue” over volume, specifically reducing off-price wholesale pairs in the USA by 31%.
Its shoe revenues rose by 19%, across a range of silhouettes including Lowell and Buzz, together with core styles including the 1461 Shoe, the Adrian Tassel Loafer and the Mary Jane.
The business has now entered the “scale” phase of its turnaround strategy, supported by a reduction in net bank debt to £69.7m and the opening of a new flagship store on London’s Brewer Street.
Looking ahead, the group said it plans to deliver further strong PBT growth in FY27, driven by operational leverage.
Nwokorie said: “In FY26 we returned the business to profit growth, delivering a 61% increase in adjusted PBT, and made good progress pivoting the business to a consumer-first operating model. Shoes were the standout performer, up 19%. Our focus on execution is paying off: we are improving the quality of revenues whilst strengthening margins.
“Desire for the Dr. Martens brand continues to grow, with more collaborators approaching us and increased wholesale partner support. With the operating model reset and key capabilities in place, our business is now well set up to deliver both our FY27 objectives and medium-term targets.”
