Kristen Sosa Joins Caleres as Division President of New York Brands

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Caleres (NYSE: CAL), a market-leading portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands, today announced that Kristen Sosa has joined the company as Division President of Brand Portfolio - New York Brands, a new position. In this role she will be responsible for the operations and have oversight of Stuart Weitzman, Allen Edmonds, Franco Sarto, Vince, Veronica Beard and Favorite Daughter. She will report to Jay Schmidt, President and CEO of Caleres.

Sosa brings 30 years of leadership experience across luxury, fashion and retail. Most recently, she served as CEO, North America at Zadig & Voltaire, where she drove growth across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Previously, she was President of the Americas at Marc Jacobs, leading regional retail and wholesale strategy. Earlier in her career, she served as Chief Merchant at Olivela, helping scale the mission-driven luxury e-commerce startup. She began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue, rising to senior leadership roles across both the Saks Fifth Avenue and Off 5th divisions, including Executive Vice President, Chief Merchant and Head of Digital.

“Kristen is a proven merchant leader with deep experience in fashion across all channels, particularly with expertise in contemporary and luxury. She has a strong track record of launching, scaling and revitalizing businesses,” said Schmidt. “Kristen is joining Caleres at a pivotal moment for the company as we continue to strengthen our portfolio of distinctive brands. She brings the strategic focus and operational discipline needed to drive our next phase of growth.”

“I am excited to lead these powerful brands at such an important time for Caleres,” said Sosa. “Caleres is a leader in fashion footwear, and its brands are positioned for growth. I look forward to working closely with the talented team to leverage my experience and drive meaningful impact.”

About Caleres

Caleres is a market-leading portfolio of global footwear brands that includes Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Stuart Weitzman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer, Vionic and more. Our products are available virtually everywhere - in the nearly 1,000 retail stores we operate, in hundreds of major department and specialty stores, on our branded e-commerce sites, and on many additional third-party retail platforms. Combined, these brands make Caleres a company with both a legacy and a mission. Our legacy is nearly 150 years of craftsmanship and our passion for fit, while our mission is to continue to inspire people to feel great… feet first. Visit caleres.com to learn more about us.