Designer Brands President Bill Jordan is leaving the company, according to a Monday Securities and Exchange Commission filing. Jordan, who is also the president of Camuto, will step down from both positions on or before Dec. 1.
Jordan became president of Designer Brands in June 2021 and was previously the company’s chief growth officer, according to a corporate bio. He has been with the company for almost 18 years, per LinkedIn, including as president of DSW, president and CEO of Town Shoes Limited, and as chief administrative officer.
Designer Brands has gone through a slew of changes recently, with new CEO Doug Howe arriving from Kohl’s in April and a new president for DSW joining in July. The footwear company laid off an unspecified number of employees in March in an effort to “pare back every line of spending possible,” CFO Jared Poff said at the time.
The retailer has seen a string of sales declines in recent quarters, with sales falling more than 10% in the first quarter and 7.5% in Q4.
Jordan’s departure comes as the retailer is focusing on its owned brand strategy, with plans to double sales of those brands by 2026. Designer Brands as a whole is also aiming for a $4 billion revenue target by that time.
The retailer has been building up its portfolio in recent months, including through the acquisition of Keds and Topo Athletic, as well as licensing agreements with the likes of Le Tigre. In discussing a recent Le Tigre collection with Fashion Dive, Jordan indicated the company is still looking for acquisition targets.
“We want to continue to build our portfolio. And if you give brands the right love and attention, you can do great things,” Jordan said.
