Footwear retailer on hunt for new president
The president of Famous Footwear is retiring.
Caleres, owner of Famous Footwear, announced that Rick Ausick will retire in 2018 as part of a planned succession. He will remain actively involved and participate in day-to-day operations during both the search and transition.
Ausick and his leadership team have been integral in developing and executing Famous Footwear’s highly successful strategic plan, the company said. Caleres has retained Kirk Palmer Associates to assist in the search for his successor.
“We are actively managing the search for Rick’s successor, and, since it is incredibly important for us to find the right person for this role, we are considering both internal and external candidates,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, president and chairman of Caleres. “Our goal is to ensure a thoughtful, seamless transition.”
Ausick joined Caleres in 2002 as Famous Footwear’s senior VP and chief merchandise officer, directing the chain’s merchandising assortment, achieving increased purchase ratios, lower inventories and faster merchandise turns. After spending three years as division president of wholesale, Ausick returned to Famous Footwear as division president in 2010.
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.
Caleres, owner of Famous Footwear, announced that Rick Ausick will retire in 2018 as part of a planned succession. He will remain actively involved and participate in day-to-day operations during both the search and transition.
Ausick and his leadership team have been integral in developing and executing Famous Footwear’s highly successful strategic plan, the company said. Caleres has retained Kirk Palmer Associates to assist in the search for his successor.
“We are actively managing the search for Rick’s successor, and, since it is incredibly important for us to find the right person for this role, we are considering both internal and external candidates,” said Diane Sullivan, CEO, president and chairman of Caleres. “Our goal is to ensure a thoughtful, seamless transition.”
Ausick joined Caleres in 2002 as Famous Footwear’s senior VP and chief merchandise officer, directing the chain’s merchandising assortment, achieving increased purchase ratios, lower inventories and faster merchandise turns. After spending three years as division president of wholesale, Ausick returned to Famous Footwear as division president in 2010.
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.