Schuh has appointed Tomas Petersson as its new President, succeeding Colin Temple, who is retiring after 38 years with the footwear retailer.
Petersson will join the business at the end of July and work alongside Temple over the coming months to ensure a smooth leadership transition. He will report to Andy Gray, CEO of Journeys Global Retail Group, which brings together Schuh, Journeys and Little Burgundy under Genesco’s youth-focused footwear division.
Colin Temple (left) and Tomas Petersson (right)
Petersson brings more than 30 years of international leadership experience across the footwear and sporting goods industries. He joins from a consultancy role, having previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Foot Locker. Earlier in his career, he held senior executive positions at Intersport and Puma, leading retail, commercial and omnichannel operations across Europe and Asia.
His appointment comes as Schuh continues to invest in its long-term growth strategy. Earlier this year, the retailer returned to Leeds with a new store at Trinity Leeds, appointed Laura King as Chief Marketing Officer and outlined plans to strengthen its digital capabilities after reporting a sharp decline in annual profits following weaker Black Friday and Christmas trading.
Petersson said: “I am honoured to join Schuh and the Genesco family at such an exciting time.”
“Colin and the team have built an outstanding business serving the youth customer with a unique culture, exceptional people and strong brand partnerships. I look forward to building on that foundation, accelerating growth, strengthening our footwear leadership, and delivering an even better experience for our customers, colleagues and brand partners.”
Temple joined Schuh as a merchandiser in 1988 before becoming Managing Director in 2002 and later President. During his tenure, he helped establish the retailer as one of the UK’s leading footwear specialists, building its omnichannel capabilities, strengthening brand partnerships and expanding its retail footprint.
He said: “Serving as Schuh president has been the privilege of my career. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved, and I want to sincerely thank the people at Schuh for their dedication, hard work and friendship.”
“While I look forward to the next chapter, I leave knowing the business is in great hands and has a bright future ahead.”
Andy Gray, CEO of Journeys Global Retail Group, thanked Temple for his contributions to the business and said Petersson’s international retail experience and proven ability to grow retail businesses made him “the right leader” to guide Schuh through its next phase of growth.