Teen apparel retailer names new chief marketer

Will A. Smith has joined Abercrombie & Fitch Co. as chief marketing officer.



Smith, who will report to president and chief merchandising officer Fran Horowitz, will be responsible for all brand, creative and digital marketing across the chain.



Smith has spent the last nine years in senior marketing roles at Caleres, formerly known Brown Shoe Company. He was promoted to chief marketing officer for Famous Footwear/Brown Group Retail in 2013. During his tenure, he contributed to rapid e-commerce traffic gains, and evolved and modernized all customer contact strategies and tactics.



He is also credited with revitalizing a customer loyalty program that now delivers nearly three-quarters of the organization's total annual revenue, as well as launching a best-in-class mobile app for Famous Footwear, which now has over 1.3 million users. Smith also played a critical role in the corporate rebranding initiative that resulted in the 137-year-old company’s name change to Caleres.



He has also served as group VP of marketing for Liz Claiborne Retail and Footstar Athletic; VP and general manager of Blackground Records/Virgin Records N.A., and VP of marketing for Urban Music at Atlantic Recording Corporation.