Brand intelligence
New Balance
New Balance is the privately held, family-owned athletic footwear and apparel company founded in Boston in 1906 by William J. Riley. It began with arch supports and developed into a global performance and lifestyle business spanning running, training, team sports, tennis, basketball, football, skate and everyday footwear and apparel. Its Made in USA and Made in UK programmes remain a visible part of its manufacturing identity. Joe Preston has been President and Chief Executive Officer since 2019. The directory treats New Balance as an operating brand and company, not as a designer-led fashion house, and preserves its independent ownership context. It uses company-published sales figures only when the disclosure identifies New Balance itself and does not infer margins, valuation or category results that the company has not released.
- Country
- USA
- Founded
- 1906
- Founder
- William J. Riley
- Ownership
- Independent; Davis family
- Documented milestones
- 4
- William J. Riley — Founder1906–Present · house · current · New Balance
- Joe Preston — President and Chief Executive Officer2019–Present · house · current · New Balance
- 1906 — Business foundedWilliam J. Riley establishes the New Balance Arch Support Company in Boston.
- 1938 — First running shoesNew Balance produces its first running shoes for a local club.
- 1972 — Jim Davis acquires companyDavis acquires New Balance on the day of the Boston Marathon.
- 1976 — 320 gains recognitionRunner's World ranks the New Balance 320 first in its running-shoe evaluation.