Jason Loveland, Nike Inc’s VP of enterprise AI/ML engineering, is exiting his post as Nike confirmed layoffs in May at its technology division as part of a broader restructuring.
Category: Footwear
Saks Global Appoints CFO
Saks Global appointed Brandy Richardson, formerly at Tailored Brands and Neiman Marcus, as chief financial officer, effective August 18.
KeyBanc Q2 Footwear Survey Finds Nike, Adidas and Hoka Trending Up
The survey of 1,001 U.S. adults conducted between June 25 and July 7, explored respondents footwear ownership, preferences, spending, and outlook. Among demographics, the Top 2 favorite brands for men and women, in order, were Nike and Adidas.
EXEC: Saucony Brand China Retail Growth Relaxes Further in Q2
MS (China) Sports Company Limited, a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Xtep International Holdings Limited, operates under licensing and royalty agreements for the Merrell and Saucony brands and subsidiaries in China.
Nordstrom Inc. Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Kelly Dilts joins Nordstrom from Dollar General where she has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer since 2023. Her appointment is effective August 29.
EXEC: Stella Int’l Q2 Footwear Shipment Volume Accelerates, Driven Mainly by Sports Segment
The manufacturer of footwear for Nike, Saucony, Under Armour, Merrell, Timberland and Ugg said Footwear Manufacturing shipment volumes in the second quarter rose 4.1 percent year-over-year and increased 3.8 percent year-over-year for the first half period.
Bombas Promotes Jason LaRose to CEO; David Heath Moves to Executive Chair
Company President Jason LaRose, a former Under Armour executive, to CEO. Bombas Co-Founder David Heath becomes executive chair. LaRose is responsible for expanding Bombas beyond direct-to-consumer, with only 7 percent of revenues currently coming from wholesale.
Kohl’s Appoints JD Sports Exec as Chief Digital Officer
Arianne Parisi, most recently chief digital officer for JD Sports Fashion Plc, has been named the retailer’s chief digital officer. Starting on July 28, Parisi will join the company’s executive leadership team and report directly to Interim CEO Michael Bender.
Lululemon Inks Franchise Partner to Enter Market in India
The collaboration will see LULU launch its first retail store in the country in addition to having a dedicated e-commerce presence on both Tata CLiQ Luxury and Tata CLiQ Fashion platforms.
EXEC: Coats Group to Acquire OrthoLite in Move to Reshape Footwear Components Market
The London-based thread manufacturer reached a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based footwear insole maker OrthoLite for $770 million, including debt. The acquisition is reportedly designed to accelerate the London-based thread manufacturer’s ambition to become a leading supplier of materials to the footwear industry.
Nike’s Debt Downgraded on Lower Profitability, Tariff Risks
S&P Global Ratings lowered its debt ratings on Nike, Inc., due to recent sales and margin declines that it expects will continue in its current fiscal year as well as ongoing tariff risks. The rating agency said, “We believe it will take multiple years to regain the market share lost to both apparel and footwear competitors and return Nike to historical levels of profitability.”
Rygr Taps Saks, Backbone and TNF Veteran as Company President
Hlidek replaces Brian Holcombe, who co-founded Rygr in 2016 and assumed the role of president in 2023. The company said Holcombe’s nine-year tenure helped shape the agency’s “strong foundation, culture and client portfolio.”
Adidas Extends Contract with University of Nevada
The University of Nevada announced a new five-year agreement with Adidas, continuing its partnership that began in 2020. Adidas will remain the exclusive provider of footwear, apparel and accessories for Wolf Pack Athletics.
Survey: Potential Tariffs and Inflation Jump-Started BTS Shopping
“Consumers are being mindful of the potential impacts of tariffs and inflation on back-to-school items, and have turned to early shopping, discount stores and summer sales for savings on school essentials.” — Katherine Cullen, VP of Industry and Consumer Insights, National Retail Federation
361 Degrees Owned-Retail Posts Healthy Q2 Growth
China-based 361 Degrees International, Ltd. reported that brick-and-mortar retail sales of 361º core-branded products increased by approximately 10 percent year-over-year for the second quarter of 2025, which ended on June 30, moderating slightly after expanding by 10 percent to 15 percent in the first quarter.
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