Parent company of Famous Footwear names CFO

Calares is making another change in its C-suite.

The footwear giant, whose brands include Famous Footwear, Naturalizer, LifeStride, Allen Edmonds and more, has appointed Jack Calandra as senior VP and CFO, effective September 12, 2022.  He will succeed Ken Hannah, who has served in the role since 2015.

Calandra most recently served as CFO of a.k.a. Brands. Prior to that, from 2017 to 2020, he served as executive VP, CFO and treasurer for Tailored Brands. Calandra also spent 12 years at Gap Inc., where he held several executive positions.

In July, Calares said said that Diane Sullivan will retire as CEO January 15, 2023, and will assume the role of executive chairman. Jay Schmidt, president of Caleres, will succeed Sullivan as CEO in what the company called “a long-scheduled and carefully planned succession process.”

“Jack is a collaborative leader, and his diverse experience makes him the ideal addition to the Caleres leadership team,” said Schmidt. “His strong financial background and deep expertise in retail, omni-channel, and consumer goods will be essential as we continue to position Caleres for long-term success.”

Calandra will have responsibility for the company’s finance, accounting, investor relations, external reporting, treasury and tax functions.

“I am confident Jack will be an excellent fit with the Caleres leadership team,” said  Sullivan. “With his strong business acumen and extensive industry knowledge, Jack is exceptionally well-equipped to help lead the organization forward and to drive significant incremental value for our many stakeholders.”

Caleres is a diverse portfolio of global footwear brands. Its products are available in the nearly 1,000 retail stores it operates as well as in hundreds of major department and specialty stores. Its brands include Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman,  Naturalizer,  Vionic, Vince, Franco Sarto, Dr. Scholl’s Shoes, LifeStride, Blowfish Malibu, Bzees, Circus by Sam Edelman and Ryka.