Footwear retailer taps Disney vet as president
Famous Footwear has ended its search for a new president.
Molly Adams has been named president of Famous Footwear, which is owned by Caleres. She will take the helm as of May 29.
Adams will be tasked with focusing on consumer engagement, store productivity and omnichannel initiatives. In 2017, Famous Footwear made $1.6 billion in revenue, which accounted for 59% of the revenue in the Caleres portfolio.
Most recently, Adams was executive VP, global merchandising and product development at The Walt Disney Company, a position she has held since 2008. During her tenure, she led two multibillion-dollar business areas, and a combined global merchandising and product development team.
Prior to Disney, Adams held positions with private equity-owned and smaller companies in retail and entertainment. Adams spent eight years at specialty fashion retail chain Anchor Blue Retail group as a senior VP and general merchandise manager and divisional merchandise manager.
She also served as president of Stony Apparel Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of juniors’ and kids’ fashion apparel. Adams also held a variety of retail positions early in her career including merchandising, buying, sales and management positions at major department stores and specialty retail stores.
Caleres operates more than 1,200 retail stores and also sells its product in hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on its branded e-commerce sites, and on many additional third-party retail websites. Its brand include Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Franco Sarto, Vince, Via Spiga, George Brown Bilt, Diane von Furstenberg, Fergie Footwear and Carlos Santana and others.
Molly Adams has been named president of Famous Footwear, which is owned by Caleres. She will take the helm as of May 29.
Adams will be tasked with focusing on consumer engagement, store productivity and omnichannel initiatives. In 2017, Famous Footwear made $1.6 billion in revenue, which accounted for 59% of the revenue in the Caleres portfolio.
Most recently, Adams was executive VP, global merchandising and product development at The Walt Disney Company, a position she has held since 2008. During her tenure, she led two multibillion-dollar business areas, and a combined global merchandising and product development team.
Prior to Disney, Adams held positions with private equity-owned and smaller companies in retail and entertainment. Adams spent eight years at specialty fashion retail chain Anchor Blue Retail group as a senior VP and general merchandise manager and divisional merchandise manager.
She also served as president of Stony Apparel Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of juniors’ and kids’ fashion apparel. Adams also held a variety of retail positions early in her career including merchandising, buying, sales and management positions at major department stores and specialty retail stores.
Caleres operates more than 1,200 retail stores and also sells its product in hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on its branded e-commerce sites, and on many additional third-party retail websites. Its brand include Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Franco Sarto, Vince, Via Spiga, George Brown Bilt, Diane von Furstenberg, Fergie Footwear and Carlos Santana and others.