Genesco Inc. appointed David Baxter president and chief executive officer of its Lids Sports Group and senior vice president of Genesco, effective June 1, 2016.
Baxter’s career spans multiple segments of the sports and licensed apparel industry. From 2006 to 2014, he served as president, Sports Licensed Division, Adidas/Reebok. Following the acquisition of Reebok by Adidas, he was responsible for overseeing all of Adidas’ and Reebok’s sports licensed business with the NBA, MLS, NHL, WNBA, and NCAA partners. Starting in 2010, he also served as vice president, Sports Performance, adidas America. He joined Reebok in March 2001 as senior vice president and chief operating officer of OnField before being promoted to president of OnField in October 2002. With the merger of Reebok’s two apparel groups, OnField and Reebok Apparel, in October 2003, he was named to the position of president of Reebok Apparel.
Robert J. Dennis, Genesco chairman, president, and chief executive officer, said, “We are delighted that David Baxter has agreed to join Lids Sports Group, and believe that he is uniquely qualified to lead the company through the next phase of its growth as an omnichannel retailer. David’s deep knowledge of the licensed sports industry, his experience across both retail and wholesale, and his record of success in leading businesses and people, make him an ideal choice to lead the Lids Sports Group at this time. We view his industry experience as a valuable addition to the deep retail and merchandising experience that is the core of today’s Lids leadership team. During this time of industry transition, changes in the professional leagues’ approach to merchandise licensing relationships are presenting new opportunities to licensed sports merchandise retailers and vendors alike. I am pleased to welcome David to the Genesco management team.”
Earlier in his career, Baxter held a number of management roles in sports-related retailers and wholesale consumer products companies. He was twice named to Sports Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list of the most influential executives in the sports industry under the age of 40 and has also been listed in The Sporting News Power 100.
The Lids Sports Group has more than 1,300 mall-based, airport, street level and factory outlet locations nationwide, and in Canada and Puerto Rico. Formats include Lids, Locker Room by Lids and Lids Clubhouse. The Locker Room by Lids segment includes the Seattle Team Shop, Buckeye Corner, Tiger Mania, Sports Fan-Attic and Jersey City (Canada) nameplates.
