Shawn Neville, most recently the president & CEO of Footstar's athletic division, will join Stride Rite Corporation as president of Keds, effective July 7, 2004. Prior to managing the Footaction and Just for Feet businesses for Footstar, Neville was SVP/GM of Reebok North America after a run as chief of Reebok’s France operation and a stint as VP of Field Sales.

SEW caught up with Neville as he was making preparations for the move back to Boston. He said he saw a real opportunity for a brand with strong brand recognition and cache that is now at a sales volume level that is roughly 50% less than at its peak volume.

“The trend toward classics, flats, and sandals and the ancillary categories present great opportunities for the brand,” said Neville. “The Keds brand may be one of the biggest brand opportunities in the footwear business,” he said.

Neville said the Keds business was “very well managed” and had a “very strong team” already in place.
He will report to Rick Thornton, president and COO of Stride Rite Corporation.