Fleet Feet, the largest U.S. franchisor of run specialty stores, announced that Jonathan Sipling was appointed vice president of marketing and digital.
In this newly created role, Sipling will focus on expanding the company’s brand visibility, bolster customer engagement and drive omnichannel and e-commerce growth. He will also support Fleet Feet’s franchise and company-owned brick-and-mortar stores, reporting to COO Jason Jabaut.
“Jonathan brings a wealth of knowledge from his previous leadership roles with athletic, retail and franchisor businesses, making him the perfect fit to lead this area of our business,” said Jabaut. “His expertise in developing innovative marketing campaigns and leveraging data and analytics to optimize performance will be instrumental in elevating Fleet Feet’s shopping experience both in-store and online.”
Sipling brings over 20 years of experience to the position. Previously, he was Dish Wireless’s chief merchandising officer, overseeing marketing strategy, execution and digital operations for Boost Mobile, Boost Infinite, and the Dish retail wireless business. He has also held C-suite positions at Elevate Brands and Wayfair and leadership roles at Amazon, Adidas and McKinsey & Company.
“I became a Fleet Feet customer in 2003, when I began training for my first marathon, and am thrilled to join this amazing brand that embodies community and a passion for running,” said Sipling. “I look forward to collaborating with the team to amplify our message and serve even more people who want to get moving and feel good on their feet.”
Sipling’s appointment rounds out Fleet Feet’s recent executive hires in business operations, finance, IT, and supply chain, as well as leadership expansions and promotions across business development, human resources and marketing.
Fleet Feet acquired JackRabbit in December 2021 and Marathon Sports in July 2022. The company folded JackRabbit stores into the FF brand, while Marathon Sports remains an independently operated subsidiary. Since 2023, Fleet Feet has opened 25 new stores, including 20 franchise locations.
Images courtesy Fleet Feet
