Companies

Designer Brands appoints Andrea O'Donnell as Brands President

Jan 24, 2024 United States

The North American footwear company has appointed Andrea O'Donnell to the role of Brands President and Executive Vice President of Designer Brands, effective from the 29th of January 2024

In this role, O’Donnell will be responsible for Designer Brands’ portfolio of owned and licensed brands, which includes Keds, Vince Camuto, Topo Athletic, Hush Puppies, Le TIGRE, Lucky Brand, Jessica Simpson, Kelly & Katie, Crown Vintage, Mix No. 6, and more. She will oversee all aspects of the brands from design and sourcing to sales, both wholesale and DTC, reporting directly to Designer Brands' Chief Executive Officer, Doug Howe.

“With Andrea’s appointment as Brands President, we are bringing into our organization a distinctive and crucial skillset that we believe will enable us to accelerate our roadmap as we continue growing as a brand builder. Her deep experience and tremendous track record, which includes the revitalization of the powerhouse brand, Ugg, will be a critical asset for us moving forward. The passion for design and storytelling she brings to the table will further bolster our strategy of delivering a unique, omni-channel customer experience”, commented Howe.

Andrea O’Donnell joins the company from the fashion retailer Everlane, where she has been Chief Executive Officer since 2021. Previously, she led the expansion of the Ugg and Koolaburra brands at Deckers as President of Fashion Lifestyle. Before Deckers, she was Global Merchandising for DFS Group, a multi-billion-dollar retailer majority-owned by LVMH, and Executive Director of Lane Crawford. Her career also includes positions at retail brands such as John Lewis, Hackett London, Jaeger, and Debenhams.

“Designer Brands has long been a power player in the footwear industry and has now thoughtfully built a diverse and complementary brand portfolio to meet diverse and ever-changing consumer preferences. I am thrilled to begin working with the entire Designer Brands team to continue to build our trend-right and growing brand portfolio”, stated O'Donnell.

Image Credits: investors.designerbrands.com

United States Companies Designer Brands Footwear Management Shoes