Bob Mullaney, president and CEO of RG Barry, finally scored the lifestyle sneaker brand he has been looking for in Gola. The 120-year-old, soccer-infused, English brand is the centerpiece of parent company Marubeni Consumer Platform US’s (MCPU) acquisition of Jacobson Group. Other footwear brands include Lotus, Ravel, and Frank Wright, along with licenses for Dunlop and Lonsdale.
“Gola is exactly the type of brand we want to bring onto the RGB platform—it has authentic heritage, real cultural credibility, and a clear runway for growth,” Mullaney says. “With more than 120 years of British sporting history, Gola sits naturally at the intersection of sports heritage and lifestyle—one of the most attractive and relevant categories in global footwear today.”
A bonus, Mullaney adds, is that Gola already has strong momentum. The brand is resonating with consumers and performing well across high-quality specialty, department store, and digital partners, he reports. “From a platform perspective, this allows RGB to enter sports-lifestyle footwear with credibility rather than aspiration,” he says. “We see meaningful opportunity to support that momentum through disciplined brand stewardship, franchise management, and enhanced go-to-market execution—without compromising what makes the brand distinctive.”
Mullaney also likes how Gola complements the existing RGB portfolio, which includes Dearfoams, Baggallini, and Columbus Product Group, including the Clarks and Timberland slipper programs. “Gola is a strategic adjacency that expands the platform rather than overlapping it,” he says. “Gola extends that foundation into sports-lifestyle footwear in a way that is logical and complementary.”
Equally important, Mullaney says the acquisition establishes a fully operational U.K. and European base for RGB. That strengthens the entire portfolio by enabling RGB to accelerate international growth for its existing brands while elevating the Jacobson brands already in-market. “Together, we’re pairing authentic brand equity with RGB’s scale, operating discipline, and consumer-first, data-driven approach—unlocking incremental value at the platform level,” he says.
As for the other brands in the Jacobson portfolio, Mullaney describes them as reflecting a long-term, brand-led mindset that aligns closely with how RGB thinks about stewardship and growth. The brands add depth across lifestyle and heritage categories, each with its own history, positioning, and consumer following, he explains. “What we respect most is the durability of these brands. They have been built carefully over time and continue to hold relevance in their respective segments. That credibility matters, particularly as we think about disciplined portfolio management and where to focus investment over time.”
Above all, Mullaney says the acquisition makes RGB stronger. “By pairing Jacobson’s brands and infrastructure with our scale, capabilities, and operating discipline, we unlock shared strengths that support sustainable, long-term value creation across the portfolio,” he says. “This is an additive transaction by design—one that makes RGB stronger, broader, and more globally capable.”
Seamlessness and speed are leading themes for the newly formed company. Over the next 90 days, teams will work together on one- and three-year plans, putting a priority on preserving what already makes these brands distinctive while identifying where RGB can add scale and executional support, Mullaney says. To ensure continuity, a smooth transition, and the preservation of the deep industry knowledge and entrepreneurial culture that has shaped the business, Jacobson Group, launched in 1982, will continue to be helmed by its existing leadership team of Tony Evans, Gary Shutt, Jonathan Jacobson, and Donna Hill. “We’ve never been in a stronger position, and joining this platform will allow us to build on that momentum while remaining true to the values that make Jacobson Group so special,” says Tony Evans, CEO of Jacobson Group. “I look forward to working closely with the RGB and Marubeni teams to drive growth across the globe.”
Adds Mullaney, “The message to retailers this year is continuity and discipline. They should expect consistency in leadership and relationships, continued momentum behind Gola with thoughtful distribution and execution, and early groundwork to support future international expansion for Dearfoams and Baggallini. Our focus remains on long-term brand building rather than short-term disruption.”
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