JCPenney Expands Leadership Team

JCPenney announced the appointment of six vice presidents, including a vice president of business development, chief customer officer, vice president of marketing, and vice president of customer engagement and insights.

Stein Mart Enters Into Transaction To Go Private

Stein Mart Inc. entered into a definitive merger agreement under which an affiliate of Kingswood Capital Management, L.P. will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Stein Mart not already beneficially owned by affiliates of Jay Stein, Stein Mart’s former CEO and current chairman of the Board of Directors, for 90 cents per share in cash.

Deckers Brands Q3 Easily Tops Guidance

Deckers Brands Inc. raised its earnings guidance for the year after reporting results for the third quarter ended December 31 that easily topped its outlook. Sales grew 2.6 percent at Ugg and jumped 63.6 percent for Hoka One One. Teva and Sanuk both suffered double-digit declines.

Adidas Lays Out Roadmap To Be Plastic Free By 2024

Adidas is introducing two new fabrics that use 100 percent recycled polyester, Primeblue and Primegreen, and announced several more commitments as part of its goal to use only recycled polyester for its shoes and clothing by 2024.

Asics Ventures Invests In Smart Shoe Technology

Asics Corporation announced that its investment subsidiary Asics Ventures Corporation invested in a Japanese startup No New Folk Studio Inc., developer of sensing solution Orphe Track, which measures and analyses foot movement.

Sortis Holdings Launches $10M Growth Venture Fund

Sortis Holdings Inc., a Portland, Oregon-based alternative investment fund manager, launched Sortis Growth Venture Fund. The $10 million fund is a hybrid venture capital and consumer-focused private equity fund dedicated to accelerating the speed at which rising consumer brands can reach their full potential.

Nike Facing SEC Investigation Over Illicit Payments, Jury Told

Nike Inc. is facing a probe from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over illicit payments to elite youth basketball players, according to a lawyer for Micheal Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer facing trial for allegedly trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike, according to Bloomberg News.

USA Triathlon Board Of Directors Elects 2020 Officers

The USA Triathlon Board of Directors announced the re-election of three of its members to officer seats — Jacqueline McCook as president, Joel Rosinbum as vice president and Kevin Haas as treasurer — and the election of Keri Serota as secretary.

Report: Nike’s Vaporfly Won’t Face Ban

The World Athletics organization, which governs most international track and field events, will not be imposing a blanket ban on Nike’s Vaporfly running shoes, according to a report in the Guardian. But the international governing body is expected to announce “a temporary suspension of any new shoe technology until after the Tokyo Olympics.”