Steve Madden announced the appointment of Arian Simone, president and chief executive officer of Fearless Fund, and Peter A. Davis, a footwear and apparel industry veteran, to its Board of Directors. Simone’s and Davis’ appointments expand the Board to eleven directors, nine of which are independent directors.
Edward Rosenfeld, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “We are pleased to welcome Arian and Pete to our Board of Directors. The addition of these directors complements our Board’s skills and experiences, and with Arian’s marketing expertise and Pete’s deep industry knowledge, we are confident they will provide valuable perspectives. We look forward to their engagement and assistance in guiding our strategy and enhancing value for all our stakeholders.”
Simone co-founded the Fearless Fund, a venture capital fund that invests in women of color-led businesses, in 2018. From 2004 to 2017, she was the owner of AR PR Marketing, a publicity and marketing strategy firm. Simone serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. In 2021, she received the 15th Annual General Motors African Ancestry Network Black History Month Celebration Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and the Detroit Branch NAACP Great Expectations Award.
Davis has over 30 years of experience in the footwear and apparel industry, having held executive leadership positions in sales and marketing with Skechers, Fila, Reebok, Joy & Mario, and Dynasty Footwear. He also founded The Infamous Black Sheep Brand, an urban action sports lifestyle brand. A former player in the NBA, today Davis runs Pete Davis Basketball, a grassroots community youth basketball organization.
Steve Madden makes fashion-forward footwear, accessories, and apparel under its own brands, including Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, Betsey Johnson, Blondo, GREATS, BB Dakota, and Mad Love. It’s also a licensee of various brands, including Anne Klein and Superga.
