C O M E W A L K T H E W O R L D W I T H U S

From design to production and retail, we apply the utmost attention to detail. ECCO builds its success on uncompromising quality, innovative technology and design. Throughout our history, our philosophy has been to make shoes that are shaped to fit the foot, not the other way around. This is who we are.

At ECCO, we invest in our people. Our ambition is to be a highly attractive workplace, providing employees with ongoing opportunities for professional training, constant challenges and internal mobility in a global network.

We want proud employees with a strong commitment and a high level of expertise within their fields. Our mission is to supply talented, passionate and dedicated people to the entire ECCO Group.

TRUE PASSION IS ESSENTIAL

TO MAKING GREAT SHOES

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About ECCO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

The ECCO NextGen programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

What can you expect?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Career path. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Financial information and practicalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Training and development. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Global assignment opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Educational requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

How to apply? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

CONTENT

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ECCO was founded in 1963 by Karl and Birte Toosbuy and is today a world leading brand within innovative and high-quality footwear and leather goods, combining style and comfort. ECCO is also among the world’s top-5 producers of premium leather to luxury brands.

Throughout ECCO’s existence, it has been a family owned business. Hanni Toosbuy Kasprzak, the daughter of Karl and Birte Toosbuy is today the owner and chairperson of the supervisory board. Steen Borgholm is ECCO’s Chief Executive Officer.

Our headquarter is located in southern Denmark, but ECCO is indeed a global company, with activities in 88 countries, including production units in Asia and Europe and sales regions in Asia, Europe and USA.

We employ more than 20,000 people worldwide, and with 50+ nationalities, ECCO is a genuine multinational business with a rich mix of cultures, languages and backgrounds. Thus, having a global mindset and ability to work in a cross cultural environment are key within the ECCO organisation.

The development of employees who know and live the ECCO culture and values is essential. Our vision is to be the best in our industry, and for this we need talented employees who have a true passion for what they do, and who share our vision.

ABOUT ECCO

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ECCO offers a fantastic opportunity for talented, adventurous young people across the globe, who are keen to start their career in a truly global company, in a world of exciting challenges.

The ECCO NextGen Programme is a 2-year or 3-year programme, that starts in September every year.

NextGens are recruited for a specific career track, matching their education, work experience and aspirations, and aligned with longer term business needs.

THE ECCO NEXTGENPROGRAMME

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“The programme took an unexperienced young lad with that cloud of doubts on top of his head called future, and delivered a confident man that believed that he could make the difference to the company as well as build himself a valuable career. There are still many steps to be made on this path, but the push made by those two years on the programme was essential, a real sling shot towards what I’ve accomplished so far.

I guess the process can be compared with those TED talks or even a long but practical version of an advanced course, where you can actually have experienced people sharing their story, feeding you the theory and you can apply it yourself. It is comprehensive and fulfilling and the most exciting part is that it is a lot up to you how well the story unfolds, which is nice.

If I were to give any kind of advice that would be to enjoy every moment, be respectful of those around you and don’t be afraid to fail, but give it a try. Who knows, you might be the one writing your own lines here some day”.

RICARDOPortuguese. Graduated in 2014Current position: Senior Production Manager

As a NextGen, you will get a strong, overall understanding of the ECCO Group and our entire value chain, from hide to high street. You will gain valuable understanding for our products and consumers, you will build a strong network with ties to subsidiaries, creating potential for you to further develop within the company.

You will experience a series of mandatory programme elements (headquarter induction, leather crash course, retail and hands-on production), followed by job placements across the globe, which are fully aligned with your career track, your individual development plan and the needs of the organisation. The NextGen Programme will provide you with a tremendous amount of knowledge, to greatly increase your performance and career opportunities within ECCO. During the programme, you will experience working in different cultures, and get the opportunity to combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge.

Expect to be stretched and challenged, personally and professionally, at all times.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

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“ECCO is a unique company in its field, in the sense that we own our full value chain. The process starts with the raw hides that are made into leather, and ends when we sell our finished shoes and accessories to our end consumer in our own stores.

As a NextGen, you have the privilege of travelling through this entire value chain. You are exposed to different disciplines of the value chain, and you will meet colleagues from all over the world and within different areas of expertise. This insight and understanding helps you form a future career path in ECCO, but also gives you a unique knowledge that benefits your future role and the projects you will be responsible for.

Whilst you are a NextGen, there is a strong bond, where we make use of our network professionally, but often also in the spare time. I still very much enjoy spending time with my former NextGen colleagues and do still have a close relationship with them”.

PATRICKDanish. Graduated in 2015Current position: EA to Executive Vice President, Global Sales

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“Joining this programme was a natural decision. As a NextGen, I’m able to develop both the inner-engineer and the hungry long-distance runner within me. The programme provides a plethora of hands-on opportunities to experiment with new ideas and concepts; moreover, the multi-cultural rotations allow me to garner a well-rounded perspective on the specific features our consumers yearn for each time they wear our shoes. In a 20,000+ people company, what excites me most is the available abundance of resources for me to learn from and add value to the company.

A highlight from my time as a NextGen was definitely my first experiment in production. The trial turned out as expected: a conglomerate of unorthodox standards, uneven PU flow, awkward upper fitting, and a shoe that didn’t really look like a shoe. I stared at the Frankenstein-ish result for a while before my Thai mentor walked up. With her hand on my shoulder and a smile on her face, she said: “No problem, try again. You’ll learn 100x more from a defeat than a 1st time success”. Since then, that short four-word mantra has further strengthened my conviction for fearless failure and speedy adaptation… No problem, try again”.

DENNISAmerican. NextGen 3-year programme. Career track: Product Management, Outdoor

Dennis’ NextGen journey: Leather crash course in the Nederlands, retail in Denmark, hands-on shoe production in Thailand, product management in Denmark, regional product and sales in USA, research & development in Denmark.

From the first day in the company, NextGens can see where the organisation can take them.

With the advantage of having personalised development plans and support from business leaders, NextGens can focus on gaining an extensive amount of knowledge in their respective fields, setting themselves up for potential management and specialist positions in the future.

Whilst NextGens have unique opportunities within the organisation, you are considered equals among your colleagues and are given tremendous respect. Every NextGen has the opportunity to participate in, or, manage projects and assignments in their departments.

CAREER PATH

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At ECCO, Corporate Responsibility is of high importance

OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

COMMITMENTS include a broad range of topics relating

to People, Society and Environment

Throughout the ECCO NextGen Programme, you will receive a monthly salary which is regulated yearly. The salary will be based on educational background and work experience, and will be adjusted on each job placement according to globally benchmarked local conditions.

While in the ECCO NextGen Programme, accommodation and daily transport will be paid for and arranged by ECCO when expatriated abroad. During the periods in Denmark, this may vary depending on whether it is a 2-year or 3-year programme. ECCO will always assist in finding accommodation.

All NextGens experience full medical and travel insurance cover during the programme.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND

PRACTICALITIES

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“TELL ME I FORGETSHOW ME I REMEMBER

ENGAGE ME AND I WILL UNDERSTAND”

Chinese proverb

During the ECCO NextGen Programme, your focus will be on-the-job training; a hands-on approach giving you the opportunity to learn by doing.

Also included is the opportunity to work with a mentor during the programme. A mentor is determined by the NextGen’s need for coaching and sparring, as well as developing personal competencies in, for example, persuasion and negotiation techniques and networking skills.

The ECCO NextGen Programme may also offer additional studies in for example finance for non-finance managers, essentials of project management, operations and supply chain management, as well as sponsorships of further formal education if required and relevant to your career track.

The purpose of the training and development is to make you qualified to work independently with analysis, planning and implementation of solutions in an international business.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

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“Being a NextGen is not just about on-the-job learning, it is also about going through your own personal development journey and pushing yourself past your comfort zone. You are expected to be able to embrace opportunities and tackle challenges on a daily basis, both personally and professionally. You are expected to work on projects that have a real business impact. During the programme, you get to make your own leather and shoes. You work on tasks that are so different to what you would expect, yet develop you in way you never would have thought. I have been exposed to all levels of the business, from operational staff to directors, whilst working on high priority business projects. The NextGen programme is about learning to persevere through good and hard times, to look at things from different perspectives, and to take away only the best parts.

But I have to say, my absolute favourite thing about the programme is, what you put in, you get back. Put in passion, drive and effort, you get back responsibility, opportunities and new friends”.

CHRISTINADanish. NextGen 3-year programme. Career track: Human Resources

Christina’s personal programme: Leather crash course in the Nederlands, hands-on shoe production in Slovakia, retail in Poland, human resources in Denmark, commercial sales in Switzerland, business development in the Nederlands and sales in the UK.

OUR PRODUCTION

2,400,000COW HIDES

4TANNERIES 2,186

SHOPS

ACTIVE IN

88COUNTRIES

60 MILLIONSQ FT

LEATHER PRODUCED

–equivalent to more than

1,000 football fields

6 SHOEFACTORIES

WE SPEAK MORE THAN

60 LANGUAGES

70% WOMENAND 30% MEN

WORK IN ECCO

1. China

2. USA

3. Russia

4. Germany

5. Sweden

TOP 5 MARKETS

40,000KILOMETERS

SHOELACE ANNUALLY– almost a trip around the world

A MULTINATIONAL COMPANY OF

61 DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES

MORE THAN

20,000EMPLOYEES WORLDWIDE

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“At the interview I was told that: “You will be given a complete on-the job training of the entire value chain from hide to shoemaking, until the product reaches our customer through our ECCO stores, whilst working in seven different countries across the globe”. I never imagined that there could be such a promising and revolutionary global training programme tailor made.

I have never been out of India in my past which was definitely an advantage as it has made every day exciting, filled with amazing experiences and surprises. Whether it be my first Danish Christmas with four dinners by our retail colleagues, or learning to stitch a pair of shoes from the finest teachers in ECCO Indonesia, where I also met my mentor for the first time. He takes complete responsibility in guiding and shaping me with my professional and personal development. As the saying goes, surround yourself with people who are going to lift you higher. Moving forward with our global family of shoemakers’ vision, to be the best shoe company in the world and the NextGen quality of always being agile and delivering high quality output. I see myself in a career growing though the challenges and contributing in technical areas, where designers’ creativity and prototypes are converted into final products for mass production”.

MISBAIndian. NextGen 3-year programme. Career track: Shoe Production Management

Misba’s programme: Leather crash course in the Nederlands, retail in Denmark, hands-on shoe production in Indonesia, research & development in Portugal, shoe production in Thailand, China and Slovakia.

ECCO is a global organisation which owns the entire value chain from hide to high street, and, working in an organisation where all processes are self-owned and controlled, provides opportunities for endless growth, both personally and professionally.

During the ECCO NextGen Programme, you will have the opportunity to work within these core business areas, depending on your career track:

• Shoe Production Management• Supply Chain Management• Finance & Business Control• Product Development• Corporate Sustainability• Leather Production• Customer Service• Human Resources• Communications

• E-commerce• Marketing• Strategy• Design• Quality• Retail• Sales• IT

GLOBAL ASSIGNMENT

OPPORTUNITIES

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“I chose to be an ECCO NextGen for the greater picture of a global company. I saw the opportunity to bring links throughout a company spread all over the world. How many people get that opportunity?! To travel, network, encounter thousands of people with thousands of stories, unique to culture and history was a privilege I couldn’t pass up.

To be a value adding NextGen, I believe you need tenacity, a strong sense of security about who you are, your values, and protecting those in the work place. You need to passionately believe in your role and push to bring up cross functional information based on where you’ve rotated in the world as it is relevant in your position. Being a NextGen means being brave, brave when facing new people, bravery when saying goodbye to friends, bravery when approached with new challenges. A NextGen experience is truly one of the most unique opportunities in the world, treasure it”.

DANAEAmerican. NextGen 3-year programme. Career track: Commercial Sales, Accessories

During her programme, Danae will: Participate in leather crash course in the Nederlands, work in retail stores in Denmark, hands-on production in Thailand, commercial sales and product in Switzerland, marketing in Denmark and likely product management or retail operations.

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FROM HIDE TO HIGH STREETECCO IS ONE OF THE FEW SHOE MANUFACTURERS IN THE WORLD TO OWN THE ENTIRE VALUE CHAIN FROM

TANNERY TO STORE

The educational requirements to join the ECCO NextGen Programme vary depending on organisational needs of ECCO, and the career aspirations of the applicant.

ECCO is looking for applications from all educational backgrounds, from upper secondary educations, bachelors and master degrees, as well as those with technical/craftsmen backgrounds.

It is preferred that NextGens should have some relevant work experience as well as international travel experience.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

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By mid-December, the ECCO NextGen Programme positions are advertised on www.ecco.com, LinkedIn and local job sites.

We will accept applications until all roles have been filled, however, application deadline is beginning of March.

Interviews will take place from mid-February and onwards.

All applications must be made through the online application process on our website (link is provided in the job advertisement).

Any queries can be emailed to: nextgen@ecco.com.

For further information, visit our website: nextgen.ecco.com.

The ECCO NextGen Programme commences on 1st September.

HOW TO APPLY?”IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW GREAT YOUR

SHOES ARE – IF YOU DON’T ACCOMPLISH

ANYTHING IN THEM”

P. IversenFormer Graduate Trainee

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