Companies

Footasylum names Hannah Mercer as CEO

Mar 27, 2026 United Kingdom

The UK-based retailer has appointed Hannah Mercer as CEO, with effect from May. She is replacing David Pujolar, who stepped down in February after serving in the role for two years

She joins the footwear and sportswear retailer from Gymshark, where she served as Global General Manager of Wholesale, Retail and Franchise. In this role, she oversaw the brand’s global P&L and led the expansion of its physical retail, franchise and wholesale operations across international markets.

Stephan Rahmede, senior representative of owner Aurelius WaterRise, who stepped in as interim Footasylum CEO, said of his soon-to-be replacement: “Hannah is a highly credible retail leader with experience building and scaling omnichannel brands across streetwear, sportswear and premium retail”.

Prior to Gymshark, she spent over six years at adidas in various senior Vice President roles. Her previous experience includes positions at Nike, Harrods, House of Fraser and Value Retail (Bicester Village).

He added: “She combines strong commercial discipline with a clear understanding of how commercial excellence, category management, brand and community drive engagement in our business. We are confident that she will further develop Footasylum’s customer experience as a leading athleisure fashion retailer”.

Her appointment comes at a time when the retailer is looking to scale up its omnichannel model and strengthen its position in the streetwear market. Key recent activity includes international expansion initiatives across the DACH and Gulf regions, continued store openings and expansions in key UK locations, and increased HSBC UK funding to support store rollouts and logistics.

“Footasylum is a brand with a powerful identity, a highly engaged customer base and a unique position in youth culture”, Mercer said. “With strong momentum across the business, I see significant opportunity for further growth, both in the UK and internationally”.

Image Credits: sgieurope.com

United Kingdom Companies Footasylum Management Sportswear