Leading Executives in Shoe Stores
Franklin R. Bracken
President, Foot Locker, Inc.
Longtime Foot Locker operator who was elevated to President on March 26, 2025 to help execute the Lace Up Plan across global retail ops, merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty and real estate.
website | investor relations | media
Doug M. Howe
Chief Executive Officer, Designer Brands Inc. (DSW)
Retail veteran and former Kohl’s CMO who became CEO in April 2023, steering DSW’s pivot to brand-building while stabilizing traffic and conversion in 2025.
website | LinkedIn (company) | Investor Center
Mark J. Worden
President & Chief Executive Officer, Shoe Carnival, Inc.
CEO since 2021, Mark has driven growth through banner expansion (Shoe Carnival, Shoe Station, Rogan’s) and M&A; in 2025 he created a new SVP role to accelerate dealmaking.
website | Investors | Corporate phone (IR)
Jay Schmidt
President & Chief Executive Officer, Caleres, Inc. (Famous Footwear, etc.)
Promoted to CEO in January 2023 after leading Caleres’ Brand Portfolio; now guides a nearly 150‑year footwear portfolio and the Famous Footwear retail chain.
Mark Lardie
President & Chief Executive Officer, Rack Room Shoes (Deichmann Group)
Leads the U.S. family footwear banners Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse, emphasizing omnichannel growth and brand storytelling.
Lisa Tucker
President & Chief Executive Officer, SHOE SHOW, INC. (Shoe Dept./Encore, Shoe Show, etc.)
Second‑generation leader overseeing 1,000+ U.S. stores; elevated the company’s brand marketing and sustainability profile and serves as FDRA Treasurer.
Mimi E. Vaughn
Board Chair, President & Chief Executive Officer, Genesco Inc. (Journeys, Johnston & Murphy, Little Burgundy)
Chair, President & CEO since 2020, she leads a portfolio of teen fashion and premium footwear banners and orchestrated leadership transitions at Journeys.
Régis Schultz
Chief Executive Officer, JD Sports Fashion plc
Appointed CEO in 2022; advancing JD’s multi‑brand, international growth, including North America, while navigating a more promotional market in 2025.
Heinrich Deichmann
Chairman of the Management Board (CEO), Deichmann SE (parent of Rack Room Shoes & SNIPES)
Heads Europe’s largest footwear retailer; steering record investment programs and U.S. operations (Rack Room Shoes, SNIPES) in 2024–2025.
website | Media (DEICHMANN SE) | Media (DEICHMANN SE)
Dennis Schröder
Chief Executive Officer, SNIPES SE
Took over as CEO in January 2024 to lead the sneaker & streetwear chain’s ~750+ stores across Europe and the U.S., with founder Sven Voth shifting to a founder/advisory role through 2025.
website | Press | About/Press hub
David Bensadoun
Chief Executive Officer, ALDO Group (ALDO, Call It Spring, GLOBO)
CEO since 2017, he led the Canadian footwear retailer through restructuring and back to growth, modernizing operations and brand strategy.
website | Press Room | LinkedIn (company)
Sandeep Kataria
Global Chief Executive Officer, Bata Brands (Bata Shoe Organization)
Global CEO since 2020, the first Indian executive in the role, overseeing one of the world’s largest footwear retail networks across emerging markets.
website | Corporate (Bata India)
Colin Li
Chairman; Leads Interim Executive Committee, Clarks (C. & J. Clark International)
Following the May 2024 CEO departure, he leads the board and an interim executive committee while the company searches for a new chief executive.
Brian Costello
Division President, Famous Footwear (Caleres)
Named Division President on August 5, 2025 after joining as chief merchant earlier in the year; now leads strategy, merchandising and operations for 800+ stores.
website | Media (Caleres) | Investors (Caleres)
Joey Pointer
Chief Executive Officer, Fleet Feet (specialty running)
CEO of the U.S. specialty running leader, expanding a franchise network of nearly 300 stores and integrating tech‑driven fit and gait analysis experiences.
website | Press/News | LinkedIn (company)
Anthony Smith
Chief Executive Officer (Operating Company), Shoe Zone plc (UK)
Long‑serving chief executive of the UK value footwear chain; in 2024 stepped off the PLC board to focus on day‑to‑day operations at the operating subsidiary.
Justin Kehrwald
President & Chief Executive Officer, Tradehome Shoes (employee‑owned)
Fourth CEO in the century‑old, employee‑owned chain; accelerated store growth, e‑commerce launch and new brand initiatives since 2018.
website | LinkedIn (exec) | HQ
Laura T. (Denk) Davis
EVP, Designer Brands & President, DSW, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (Designer Brands)
Elevated to lead day‑to‑day operations at DSW as EVP and President; focuses on elevating owned and top national brands across 450+ U.S. stores.
website | Investor Center (DBI)
Andy Gray
President, Journeys Group, Journeys Group (Genesco)
Named President effective January 3, 2024 to steer Journeys’ teen fashion footwear retail strategy after a long Foot Locker career.
Mary J. Turner
EVP, Designer Brands & President, Designer Brands Canada, Designer Brands Canada (The Shoe Company, Shoe Warehouse, DSW Canada)
Canadian retail leader who runs Designer Brands’ Canadian banners, bringing DSW’s model to Canada while tailoring assortments for local consumers.
website | Website (The Shoe Company) | Company (DBI)
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