Graz/Donaueschingen, 10 July 2026 – legero united is expanding its brand portfolio and acquiring the German children’s footwear brand VADO. VADO founder Hermann Meyer joins the legero united Executive Board as Chief Product Officer. With this merger, the international footwear company is strengthening its position as a leading player in the European children’s footwear market and sending a clear signal of growth, innovation and shaping the future.
Strengthening the children’s segment
VADO Footwear GmbH, founded in 2008 by Hermann Meyer and based in Donaueschingen, has established itself in recent years as an innovative brand for premium children’s shoes. superfit, meanwhile, is the leading children’s footwear brand in the German specialist footwear retail sector. With VADO, legero united is adding a strong, dynamically growing brand to its existing portfolio in the children’s footwear sector. Whilst superfit has stood for high-quality children’s footwear from the very first steps for decades, VADO expands the range, particularly in the area of innovative, sporty and functional children’s footwear.
Hermann Meyer to become Chief Product Officer at legero united
Following the takeover, VADO founder Hermann Meyer joined the Executive Board of legero united with effect from the start of July 2026, where, as Chief Product Officer, he will take over responsibility for product development across all the group’s brands – legero, superfit and Think! – from Stefan Stolitzka. He will also continue to oversee collection development for VADO, the brand he founded. Meyer is known as an innovative entrepreneur in the European footwear market and has successfully built up VADO as an owner-managed family business. “Since founding VADO, my aim has been to constantly rethink footwear and consistently tailor it to the needs of the wearers. My driving force has been, and remains, the development of footwear tailored to specific target groups for people of all ages – always with a focus on individual added value. In legero united, I have found a partner who shares the same values: a long-term outlook, high product quality and the courage to break new ground. The fact that I will be able to help shape the company’s future as part of the management team fills me with great joy and a sense of responsibility. Together, we want to further develop strong brands, drive innovation and create products that inspire people,” says Hermann Meyer. He has already been working intensively to familiarise himself with the business over the past few weeks and will be working closely with Stefan Stolitzka in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition. Stefan Stolitzka will become Chairman of the Board next year. He will oversee the company’s strategic direction and its consistent implementation. The planned changes to the company’s leadership will go ahead as scheduled, regardless of the acquisition. Florian Fuchs will take over the role of CEO of legero united from Stefan Stolitzka in the coming year, as planned. Morten Bay Jensen will continue to serve on the Executive Board as COO, with responsibility for production, logistics, quality assurance and sustainability.
“To actively shape the future, we need determination, curiosity and the courage to think differently. That’s what Hermann Meyer brings to the table with VADO. Together, we will ensure that legero united continues to offer the products customers are looking for. The aim is to make our brands a prominent part of the customer experience – both digitally and in the real world. And, going forward, to be active in those markets where the future is taking shape. We are very much looking forward to working together,” explains Stefan Stolitzka. “The acquisition is more than just a response to current market conditions. It is an investment in the future. We are combining brand strength, product expertise and digital innovation to actively capitalise on the opportunities presented by a changing market,” adds Florian Fuchs. All brands will remain independent and clearly positioned in future. The aim of the merger is to harness synergies whilst consistently developing the respective brand identities.
Innovation and digitalisation as joint drivers of growth
A particular focus of the collaboration is on using digital technologies to further develop product design. VADO is spearheading this innovation. The brand already utilises AI at key stages of the collection development process and is regarded as a pioneer in this field within the children’s footwear market. In future, this expertise is set to be incorporated into other areas of legero united, providing further impetus for digitalisation, efficiency and customer focus. VADO’s international growth is to be driven forward via legero united’s established sales platforms across Europe. The aim of the merger is to strengthen the market position of all brands in the long term and to offer all partners even more attractive product ranges, more sought-after brands and additional growth opportunities. “VADO specifically complements our existing brand portfolio and strengthens our position in the children’s footwear market – without altering existing structures or brands. For our customers, this means greater clarity, greater relevance and greater future viability,” summarises Florian Fuchs.