Bogner Appoints Arne Freundt as CEO

German luxury apparel and skiwear brand Bogner has appointed Arne Freundt, former CEO at Puma, as its new chief executive officer, effective June 1. The appointment follows the acquisition last September of a 60 percent stake in Bogner by Katjes Quiet Luxury GmbH, the investment subsidiary of German-based Katjes International GmbH & Co.

EXEC: Academy Sports Sets Roadmap to $8 Billion in Revenues

At an Analyst Day event in New York City, Academy Sports revealed a five-year plan to reach $8 billion in sales, largely through the opening of 125 new stores, while improving operating margins from 9 percent to 10 percent. Around merchandising, CEO Steve Lawrence said growth is expected to benefit from a “steady diet of newness,” including new categories, new national brands and private labels, and an amplification of “good, better, best” offerings.

EXEC: The Footwear and Apparel Brands Bringing the Brand Heat in 2026

L.E.K. Consulting Group released its fifth annual 2026 U.S. Footwear, Apparel, and Accessories Brand Heat Index, identifying the brands that have gained popularity, or increasing brand “heat,” across major product categories across the generations in women’s and men’s footwear, apparel, as well as outdoor equipment and sporting goods.

EXEC: FDRA’s Matt Priest Talks SCOTUS Tariff Ruling Fallout  

Matt Priest, president and CEO the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), talked with SGB Executive on Friday, February 20, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision ruling that struck down most of President Trump’s global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, including the likely benefits for the footwear industry, the path to refund payouts and where prices could be heading.

EXEC: Eddie Bauer Retail Stores Commence GOB Sales After Sales Fall 19 Percent Since 2022

Eddie Bauer, LLC, the entity operating Eddie Bauer’s stores in the U.S. and Canada, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with a plan to close its 175 stores in North America while seeking a sale. In court papers, the company said a post-pandemic slowdown in outdoor-related sales, inflation, and U.S. tariffs had caused annual losses over the last four years and a 19 percent drop in sales since 2022.