After spending 25 years building Dansko into a comfort-footwear giant, co-founder, CEO and President Mandy Cabot will exit her role as president but will continue as CEO and board chair.
“Taking a step back will allow me more time to focus on being the company visionary I originally set out to be and continue to propel our passion for uncommon comfort with unexpected style,” Cabot said in a release.
Cabot will turn the responsibilities of president over to Jim Fox, Dansko’s CFO of nearly 10 years. Jamey Mullin, currently Dansko’s finance director, will assume the VP of finance position. The executive changes are effective on Jan. 1, 2016.
“I’m thrilled to announce the next step in Dansko’s future with this progression in leadership,” Cabot said. “Sustainability has always been a priority for us, and developing our leaders and our bench strength is an important part of the process. We are fortunate to have tremendous depth and tenure on our leadership team to ensure a seamless transition and to preserve our unique culture. As we approach the fourth anniversary of becoming 100 percent employee-owned — an effort championed and executed by Jim — now is the perfect time to put our succession plan into effect.”
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Together with her husband and Dansko co-founder, Peter Kjellerup, Cabot anticipates “more outward-facing roles going forward, with greater focus on and participation in ESOP [employee stock ownership plan], B Corps, nonprofits and local communities,” noted the release.
Dansko’s new president, Fox, has been the firm’s CFO since 2006. He also served as CFO of basketball footwear and apparel brand And 1.
“It’s an honor to accept the responsibilities of president, and I’m thankful that I get to keep working with the fantastic team of Dansko employee-owners,” Fox said in a release. “We’re fortunate that we can continue to rely on Mandy’s guidance as our CEO and board chair, and we look forward to advancing the legacy of what Mandy and Peter have built.”
