Designer Brands, Inc. named Doug Howe as president, DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, and executive vice president of Designer Brands, effective late May.

As president of DSW, Howe will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of its 519 U.S. store locations and direct-to-consumer channels. He reports to Designer Brands’ CEO Roger Rawlins. 

  • Howe is a 30-plus-year retail veteran of vertical and national brand building and direct-to-consumer growth. He was recently CMO at Kohl’s and held prior leadership roles in merchandising, design, product development, and planning at Qurate Retail Group, Old Navy, Walmart, and May Department Stores. 

“Designer Brands and DSW are hyper-focused on maintaining our edge across the competitive landscape,” said Rawlins. “I have the highest confidence in Doug’s leadership to guide us in our stores and e-commerce operations to benefit our owned brands while focusing on the athletic and fashion brands that our 28 million loyal customers love. DSW has a bright future ahead with Doug’s proven retail experience helping advance our business priorities of customers, brands and speed.”

Photo courtesy Doug Howe/Kohl’s