NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc.
(NYSE: GCO) announced today that Mimi Eckel
Vaughn, 53, currently the Company's senior vice president
and chief operating officer, has been named Genesco's next
president and chief executive officer, effective February 2, 2020, the start of the Company's new
fiscal year. In addition, Vaughn was elected to Genesco's
board of directors, effective October
30, 2019. Vaughn will become Genesco's 12th president
and chief executive officer in its 95-year history.
Vaughn will succeed Robert J.
Dennis, 65, Genesco's current chairman, president and chief
executive officer, who will continue to serve as the Company's
executive chairman. During his 15-year career with the
Company, Dennis has led Genesco as president and chief executive
officer for 11 years and served as chairman for the past nine
years. Matthew C. Diamond, 50,
a veteran of Genesco's board, and former chief executive officer of
Alloy Media and Alloy, Inc., will continue to serve as the
Company's lead outside director.
"Mimi's appointment as president and chief executive officer is
a further step in our succession planning process, which began
several years ago and led to her recent promotion as our chief
operating officer. She has a proven track record as an
exceptional leader demonstrated through successive roles at
Genesco, including heading our corporate strategy and shared
services areas, serving as chief financial officer, and most
recently, leading the Company as chief operating officer," said
Dennis. "I look forward to supporting Mimi and the entire
management team as we work together to continue Genesco's terrific
positive momentum we have experienced since we divested Lids in
February."
Diamond added, "Mimi will serve an impactful role on the Genesco
board, sharing her strategic vision, operational knowledge and
insight into our businesses. The succession plan reflects the
board's confidence in Mimi and her ability to lead the Company
through its next phase of strategic growth and development.
On behalf of the Genesco board, I want to thank Bob for his 15
years with the Company and celebrate his lasting legacy as
president and chief executive officer, during which we navigated
important events in the Company's history, such as the acquisition
of Schuh and the sale of the Lids Sports Group."
Vaughn joined Genesco as vice president – strategy and business
development in 2003, was promoted to senior vice president –
strategy and business development in 2006, and was named senior
vice president – strategy and shared services in 2009. Vaughn
became chief financial officer in 2015, and was named Genesco's
chief operating officer in January 2018. She formally assumed
the role in May 2019 following the
appointment of Mel Tucker as chief
financial officer.
Vaughn said, "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead
Genesco forward as we enter the next chapter of our Company's
growth creating and curating leading footwear brands. I look
forward to working with Bob, our management team, and with our
tremendously talented and dedicated employees to build on the
Company's strong foundation and most recent success and continue to
execute on our strategic vision to build shareholder value as a
leading footwear-focused company."
Prior to joining the Company, Vaughn was executive vice
president of business development and marketing, and acting chief
financial officer for Link2Gov Corporation in Nashville. From
1993 to 1999, she was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, based
in Atlanta. During her tenure at McKinsey, Vaughn advised
senior executives and board members, specializing in the consumer
and retail sectors. Before joining McKinsey, Vaughn held
corporate finance positions at Goldman Sachs & Co., Wasserstein
Perella & Co., and Drexel Burnham
Lambert.
Vaughn received a bachelor of science degree in foreign service
and international economics from Georgetown
University magna cum laude and earned a master of business
administration degree from Harvard Business
School, where she graduated with distinction.
Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements,
including statements regarding future performance and other
statements not addressing solely historical facts or present
conditions. Actual results could vary materially from the
expectations reflected in these statements. A number of factors
could cause differences, including those cited in the "Risk
Factors," "Legal Proceedings" and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections
of, and elsewhere in, our SEC filings, which may be obtained
from the SEC website (www.sec.gov) or by contacting the
investor relations department of Genesco via our website
(www.genesco.com). Many of the factors that will determine the
outcome of the subject matter of this release are beyond
Genesco's ability to control or predict. Forward-looking
statements reflect the expectations of the Company at the time they
are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to update such
statements.
About Genesco Inc.
Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells
footwear and accessories in more than 1,490 retail stores
throughout the U.S., Canada, the
United Kingdom and the
Republic of Ireland, principally
under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Little
Burgundy, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites
www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.journeys.ca,
www.schuh.co.uk, www.littleburgundyshoes.com,
www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.johnstonmurphy.ca, www.trask.com, and
www.dockersshoes.com. In addition, Genesco sells wholesale
footwear under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the Trask brand,
the licensed Dockers brand, and other brands. For more information
on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit
www.genesco.com.
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SOURCE Genesco Inc.