Designer Brands Inc. announced on Monday the appointment of Andrea O’Donnell to the role of brands president and executive vice president of Designer Brands, effective January 29.
As brands president, O’Donnell will be globally 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 others.
She will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s brand portfolio, from design and sourcing to sales, both wholesale and DTC. O’Donnell will report directly to Designer Brands’ chief executive officer, Doug Howe.
O’Donnell boasts extensive background experience in merchandising, brand marketing, and commercial planning. She joins Designer Brands from Everlane, where she has served as chief executive officer since 2021. Prior to Everlane, O’Donnell led the expansion of Ugg and Koolaburra brands at Deckers as president of fashion lifestyle, after serving as president, global merchandising at DFS Group, a multibillion-dollar retailer majority owned by LVMH.
Earlier, she served as the executive director of Lane Crawford and has also held various posts at retail brands, including John Lewis, Hackett London, Jaeger, and Debenhams.
“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,” said Howe.
“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.”
In its most recent trading update, Designer Brands said net sales decreased by 9.1% in the third quarter ended October 28, 2023.
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