Nine West Holdings Inc. appointed Joel Oblonsky as chief executive officer of the Nine West and Bandolino division, effective immediately. Oblonsky, a senior executive with more than 20 years of experience in footwear and accessories, will be responsible for leading the business operations and brand strategy for both brands.

Oblonsky most recently served as president of Ralph Lauren’s Polo and Lauren Footwear brands, positions he held since 2007, and as president of Lauren Accessories, a position he held since 2009. While there, Oblonsky grew both brands into market leaders within the footwear and accessories categories. Oblonsky previously served as president and COO of Nina Footwear Corporation from 2004 to 2007, where he significantly grew wholesale sales and successfully established the brand as a meaningful player in footwear. From 1991 to 2004, Oblonsky served in a variety of management roles within Nine West Group, where he served as president of Bandolino from 1999 to 2003.

“We are very excited to have Joel return to Nine West as CEO of the Nine West and Bandolino division,” said Ralph Schipani, interim CEO of Nine West Holdings. “Joel has a deep understanding of operations and strategy, bringing two decades of senior leadership experience in Footwear and Accessories. We believe Joel is a great fit for Nine West and Bandolino given his familiarity with our brands and his track record of profitably growing businesses, and we look forward to his immediate contributions.”

“I am honored to take on the role of CEO of the Nine West and Bandolino division and look forward to returning to where I started my career to work alongside the talented teams to further strengthen the brands and drive the businesses forward,” Oblonsky said.

Nine West Holdings is a leading women’s footwear, accessories and denim company with a portfolio of brands that includes Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, and L.E.I.

Photo courtesy Nine West