Designer Shoe Warehouse Promotes Industry Vet to Be Next CEO

Designer Brands, the designer, producer and retailer of footwear and accessories said in a Thursday (Jan. 5) press release that DSW President Doug Howe is to succeed Roger Rawlins as CEO effective April 1.

“As a result of a comprehensive succession plan, we are pleased to appoint Doug, a strategic thinker with demonstrated history of driving results in the industry, to CEO,” Jay Schottenstein , executive chairman of Designer Brands’ board of directors, said in the release. “His experience across brand building, including merchandising, marketing, design, development and planning give him the expertise needed to lead this next phase of Designer Brands’ growth.”

Howe joined Designer Brands nine months ago but brings with more than 30 years of experience in the retail industry to the role, having previously served four years as chief merchandising officer at Kohl’s. Prior to that, he was with Qurate Retail Group, Gap, Walmart and May Department Stores.

“I am focused on continuing to execute on the long-range plan the team laid out at our 2022 Investor Day to double the sales of our owned brands and maintain the sales of our national brands, all while delivering with incredible speed and quality,” Howe said in the release.

Rawlins will step down as CEO and as a member of the board of directors, while assuming a strategic advisor role for the following 12 months, according to the release.

Designer Brands said during its Investor Day held in April that it aims to double its sales by 2026 by doubling owned brand sales, mostly through its direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels, while also using its omnichannel capabilities to help its partners in their own D2C efforts.

The firm has been boosting the number of owned brands over the last four years in response to footwear brands selling their products directly to consumers.

This enables the firm — which is best known for its retail stores called DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse — to grow its margins by also producing goods and selling them through other retailers as well as its own sales channels.

Rawlins has been with Designer Brands 17 years and has been CEO for seven years. Schottenstein said in the release that Rawlins led the company’s transformation from a shoe retailer to a “brand builder,” launched DSW.com, acquired its Canadian operations and integrated its design, sourcing and wholesale business.

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