February 25, 2016: Christopher Peterson, president of global brands at Ralph Lauren Corp. has decided to leave the company, effective May 31, 2016. Peterson, the company said, will work closely with Ralph Lauren President and CEO Stefan Larsson to transition his responsibilities. The president of global brands position, which was created in April 2015, is being eliminated. The company’s individual global brand presidents will now report directly to Larsson, giving the CEO direct oversight of brands.
February 23, 2016: China footwear label Stella Luna has appointed its first creative director in its 10-year history. Capucine Safyurtlu, a former fashion and market editor for French Vogue, has been named to the post.
February 23, 2016: Iconix Brand Group Inc. has named former Luxottica S.p.A., Build-A-Bear Workshop Inc. and Mars Inc. executive John Haugh its new CEO, effective April 1, 2016. Peter Cuneo, who stepped in as interim CEO after Iconix Founder and CEO Neil Cole exited in August 2015, will transition into the role of executive chairman of the Iconix board.
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February 19, 2016: Foot Locker Inc. has promoted Jake Jacobs to the position of EVP and CEO of Foot Locker North America and Lewis Kimble to the position of EVP and CEO of Foot Locker International, both effective Feb. 29. Jacobs has been with the company for 18 years and most recently served as president and CEO of Foot Locker North America. Kimble has been with Foot Locker for almost 40 years and served as president and CEO of Foot Locker Europe since 2010.
February 18, 2016: VF Corp.’s board of directors has elected W. Rodney McMullen as a director, effective February 16, 2016. McMullen is chairman of the board of The Kroger Co., since Jan. 1, 2015, and also serves as CEO of the grocery store chain, since Jan. 1, 2014.
February 17, 2016: After eight years with Converse, Chief Marketing Officer Geoff Cottrill is leaving the company. The company has not yet named a replacement.
February 17, 2016: Outdoor sneaker maker Hi-Tec Sports has promoted Peter Shean from VP of sales for Hi-Tec to VP of sales across all Hi-Tec brands, including Magnum and Private Label.
February 11, 2016: Earth Inc. has appointed its longtime chairman, Philippe Meynard, to the role of president, effective immediately. Meynard replaces Gary Champion, who left to join Clarks America Inc. as president.
February 11, 2016: Gary Champion, a 25-year Clarks Americas Inc. veteran, has rejoined the company as president, effective immediately. He replaces Geralyn Breig, who has left the company. Before leaving in 2008, Champion rose to the position of SVP at Clarks. Prior to rejoining Clarks, he was president of Earth Inc., where he’s served for six years.
February 10, 2016: Hybrid footwear maker Keen has added two new hires to the company. Former Brooks Running SVP Rob Langstaff will serve as VP of international. Christy Saito will join Keen as VP of global product merchandising, outdoor and lifestyle, a newly created post. Prior to joining Keen, Saito served as global VP of merchandising and product management at Crocs, while Langstaff, in addition to his post at Brooks, spent 17 years in operations and product development at Adidas Germany and Japan.
February 10, 2016: Nike Inc. has tapped former EA Mobile and Disney Interactive executive Adam Sussman to become its first chief digital officer.
February 9, 2016: Outdoor specialty retailer Cabela’s Inc. has promoted Scott Williams from EVP and chief commercial officer to president, effective immediately. He has been with the firm for five years and will continue to report directly to Tommy Millner, the company’s CEO.
February 6, 2016: Vincent Wauters has been named CEO of Hunter and will start his new role on March 1. He succeeds James Seuss, who stepped down in November.
February 5, 2016: Alessandro Sartori is returning to the Ermenegildo Zegna Group as its new artistic director. He join the Italian men’s wear group in June, and his first collection will be for the fall-winter 2017 season that will be shown in Milan in January 2017. After a five-year collaboration, Sartori left the top design post at Berluti in early February. The designer had joined Berluti after eight years at the creative helm of Z Zegna, Ermenegildo Zegna’s more fashion-oriented brand that was launched in 2003.
February 4, 2016: Jim Gabel, president of Wolverine World Wide Inc.’s Merrell brand, has left the company. Jim Zwiers, an 18-year veteran of the company who most recently served as president of the International Group, has been appointed president of the Wolverine Outdoor and Lifestyle Group and will also serve as president of Merrell until the company names a permanent replacement. Prior to becoming president of the Merrell brand, Gabel served as president of Wolverine’s Performance Group. Nick Ottenwess, most recently SVP of finance and operations for Wolverine’s International Group, has been promoted to president of the International Group. Ottenwess has spent more than 25 years with Wolverine.
February 4, 2016: Richie Woodworth, who was recently named president of Wolverine World Wide Inc.’s Lifestyle Group, will now lead the Wolverine Boston Group as president. Prior to his most recent appointment, Woodworth spent nine years as president of Wolverine’s Saucony brand.
February 2, 2016: Diane von Furstenberg has appointed Sarah Willersdorf chief marketing officer. Before joining DVF, Willersdorf was a partner and managing director at The Boston Consulting Group.
February 2, 2016: Streetwear label Public School has hired Anthony Landereau as its president, WWD reports. Landereau is the former VP of global sales for women’s accessories at Marc Jacobs International and also spent time at Saks Fifth Avenue, Kenzo and Polo Ralph Lauren.
February 1, 2016: Macy’s Inc. has appointed Peter Sachse, who has served as chief innovation and business development officer at the company during the past year, to the new role of chief growth officer. Prior to joining Macy’s in 2003 as president of Macy’s Corporate Marketing, Sachse was president and COO of The Bon Marché in Seattle. In his new position, Sachse will oversee all of Macy’s merchandising, as well as Macy’s Backstage, Bluemercury and international expansion. He will report to Macy’s President Jeff Gennette, effective immediately.
February 1, 2016: Justin MacFarlane has joined Macy’s Inc., effective immediately, in the new position of chief strategy, analytics and innovation officer. MacFarlane will be responsible for Macy’s strategic development, consumer and customer research, data analysis, innovation and the development of future new business opportunities, the company said. He previously served as SVP for corporate strategy at Ann Inc.
February 1, 2016: Columbia Sportswear Co. and its joint-venture partner, Swire Resources Ltd., a subsidiary of Swire Pacific Ltd., have appointed Jason Zhu GM of their China joint venture — Columbia Sportswear Commercial (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. Zhu, who spent 13 years at Nike Inc. in various senior-level roles, will assume responsibility for all go-to-market functions, including apparel, footwear and accessories product and marketing, as well as wholesale, direct retail and e-commerce channel development.
