Aerosoles appoints new chief brand officer

U.S. footwear brand Aerosoles has appointed Jimmy Gabriel to the role of president and chief brand officer.
A footwear veteran, Gabriel, brings some 50 years of experience to the American Exchange Group-owned brand.

His career spans both public and private companies across the women’s, men’s, and kids’ footwear markets, covering all categories and price points, including Aquatalia, Coach Footwear, Calvin Klein Footwear, Frye, Taryn Rose, BCBG, Juicy Couture, and Enzo Angiolini.

“I’ve always thrived on finding white space in the market and reimagining what’s possible,” said Gabriel. 

“Aerosoles has incredible potential, both domestically and internationally. The opportunity to innovate and grow this brand within American Exchange Group is exciting. The company reminds me of what Nine West Group was in the 80’s and 90’s and what Jimlar Corporation was in the early 2000’s, which is being very entrepreneurial in the way it conducts its day-to-day business. We have a talented team and a clear vision for the future. Alen and I share philosophies on so many different levels—it’s uncanny. It’s the reason I’m coming out of retirement and back to the business one more time.”

Gabriel’s career began at Wohl Shoe Company, a division of Brown Shoe Company (now Caleres), before heading to Nine West Group, and then taking on a vice president role at Enzo Angiolini. From here, he jumped to Jimlar Corporation, where he was instrumental in expanding brands under a licensed agreement with both Coach and Calvin Klein. 

Then, Gabriel spearheaded the acquisition and transformation of Aquatalia into a growing lifestyle brand under LFUSA/Global Brands Group (GBG), where he served as president of Footwear. 

“Jimmy Gabriel’s appointment marks a critical step in reinforcing the strength of the Aerosoles brand as we look to the future. With nearly 50 years of experience, his proven expertise and visionary leadership make him the ideal person to lead the brand. Jimmy’s deep industry knowledge and ability to transform brands will be invaluable as we continue to build on Aerosoles’ legacy of innovation and growth. We are confident that under his leadership, Aerosoles will reach new levels of success both domestically and globally, and we are pleased to welcome him to the team,” said Alen Mamrout, CEO of American Exchange Group.

Aerosoles retails both fashion and performance footwear to customers in over 40 countries around the world. In 2017, it filed for bankruptcy before being acquired by parent company American Exchange Group in early 2022.