Genesco Announces schuh Leadership Transition
–Accomplished Footwear Executive Tomas Petersson Appointed President as Colin Temple Retires–
–Petersson Most Recently Served as General Manager Foot Locker EMEA–
NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Genesco (NYSE: GCO) announced today the appointment of Tomas Petersson as president of schuh, the Company’s U.K. business selling branded footwear to the youth consumer. Petersson succeeds Colin Temple, who is retiring after a successful 38-year tenure with the business.
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Colin Temple, schuh
A proven consumer brand and omnichannel executive, Petersson brings extensive high-impact global leadership experience across multi-branded footwear retail businesses with a focus on youth culture. Most recently he was Foot Locker’s Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, leading the company’s largest international business, and previously served as Foot Locker’s Global General Manager of atmos, the company’s premium sneaker business, among other senior executive roles with Foot Locker, INTERSPORT and PUMA.
Petersson will join schuh in late July. He will work closely alongside Temple over the coming months to ensure a seamless transition and provide continuity for schuh’s people, partners, and customers.
“I am honored to join schuh and the Genesco family at such an exciting time. I would like to thank Andy Gray and the leadership team for the opportunity and the confidence they have placed in me. Colin and the team have built an outstanding business with a unique culture, exceptional people and strong brand partnerships,” said Petersson. “I look forward to building on that foundation, accelerating growth, strengthening our footwear strategy, and delivering an even better experience for our customers, colleagues and brand partners.”
An industry veteran, Temple has been an integral part of schuh for nearly four decades, including the last 15 years as president. Joining the business as a merchandiser in 1988, he worked his way up to managing director in 2002, before being named president of schuh. Under Temple’s leadership, schuh strengthened its position as one of the U.K.’s leading footwear retailers, building market-leading omnichannel capabilities, deep and trusted brand partnerships, and a distinctive retail experience for customers. He leaves behind a business with a strong foundation, well positioned to continue growing both on the high street and online.
“Colin’s leadership has helped shape schuh into one of the U.K.’s leading footwear retailers, and I want to thank him for his extraordinary contributions to the business for nearly four decades. He leaves behind a strong team, a distinctive brand and a business that is well positioned for continued success,” said Andy Gray, Journeys Global Retail Group CEO. “As we look ahead, Tomas’ international experience and proven ability to grow retail businesses make him the right leader to build on that momentum while advancing our shared strategy across the Journeys Global Retail Group.”
“I have every confidence that Tomas is the right person to lead the business into its next chapter. Serving as schuh president has been the privilege of my career. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and I want to sincerely thank the people at schuh for their dedication, hard work and friendship,” said Temple. “While I look forward to the next chapter, I leave knowing the business is in great hands and has a bright future ahead.”
Petersson will report directly to Gray. Journeys Global Retail Group brings together U.S. footwear retailer Journeys with schuh and Canada’s Little Burgundy under a unified leadership structure, uniting Genesco’s youth-focused footwear businesses.
About Tomas Petersson
Throughout his career, he has built broad expertise across merchandising, retail operations, brand partnerships and commercial strategy, with a proven track record of driving growth and strengthening retail businesses. Petersson joins schuh from Foot Locker, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, leading the company’s largest international business. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at Foot Locker, including Global General Manager of atmos, the company’s premium sneaker business, and served as Vice President and General Manager, Asia for Foot Locker. Prior to joining Foot Locker, Petersson served as Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Board Member at INTERSPORT Sweden and held several international roles at PUMA.
About schuh
schuh is a leading omnichannel fashion footwear retailer for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, offering sought-after brands and its own-label collection in adults’ and kids’ stores across the UK and Ireland. Underpinned by its Same, But Different brand platform, schuh remains a progressive leader in the footwear market. It is known for its inclusive atmosphere, seamless shopping experience, standout service and positive social and environmental impact through its Do More Good strategy. For more information, visit www.schuh.co.uk.
About Genesco Inc.
Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) is a footwear first company with distinctively positioned retail and lifestyle brands and proven omnichannel capabilities offering customers the footwear they desire in engaging shopping environments, including more than 1,200 retail stores and branded e-commerce websites. Its Journeys, Little Burgundy and Schuh brands serve teens, kids and young adults with on-trend fashion footwear that inspires youth culture in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Johnston & Murphy serves successful, affluent men and women with premium footwear, apparel and accessories in the U.S. and Canada, and Genesco Brands Group sells branded lifestyle footwear to leading retailers under licensed brands including Wrangler, Dockers and Starter. Founded in 1924, Genesco is based in Nashville, Tennessee. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com.
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Genesco Media Contact
Scott Becker (615) 367-7531 /[email protected]
Claire McCall (615) 308-2483 /[email protected]
Genesco Financial Contact
Darryl MacQuarrie (615) 308-5629 /[email protected]
schuh Media Contact
Stephanie O’Reilly, Head of Community (PR relations)
07885 989153 / [email protected]
KEYWORDS: Tennessee United States North America
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Fashion Footwear Online Retail Retail Other Retail Department Stores
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