These Were the Biggest Footwear CEO Changes of 2025

2 hours ago 2

Jennie Bell

Tue, December 30, 2025 astatine 8:00 AM CST 10 min read

The past twelvemonth brought different circular of turnover among main enforcement officers astatine large footwear brands and retailers, including Puma, Foot Locker, Converse and REI Co-op.

In immoderate cases, the changes could beryllium tied to lagging fiscal numbers, arsenic companies grappled this twelvemonth with shifting user tastes and skyrocketing tariffs connected U.S. imports. Other enactment swaps resulted from acquisitions — arsenic was the lawsuit astatine Foot Locker, for lawsuit — portion others were owed to much accepted circumstances, specified arsenic a predecessor’s retirement.

More from WWD

7 of the Biggest Layoffs to Hit Footwear successful 2025
Puma Secures New Financing Loan arsenic Sale Speculation Continues
Puma Releases 'Lux' Versions of Its Speedcat, Wedge Sneaker and Ballet Styles

Overall, CEO turnover astatine U.S. companies has been trending down this year, according to planetary outplacement and concern and enforcement coaching steadfast Challenger, Gray & Christmas. In a study released successful aboriginal December, the institution noted that arsenic of October, 1,760 CEOs had near their posts, down 3.5 percent from the aforesaid play successful 2024.

That inclination continues successful the user products industry, which saw 56 CEO exits done October, down 19 percent from the erstwhile year.

The retail industry, however, has experienced overmuch much volatility with 43 CEO exits year-to-date. That’s a 34 percent summation from those recorded done October 2024.

Below, FN highlights immoderate of the astir notable CEO changes among footwear manufacturers and retailers successful 2025.

Arthur Hoeld, Puma, CEO, shoes, sneakers, footwear, executive

In an unexpected move, Puma SE main enforcement serviceman Arne Freundt stepped down from his apical relation successful April. According to the German sportswear company, Freundt’s exit was “due to differing views connected strategy execution” and helium near the institution contempt having signed a four-year declaration successful 2023 to service arsenic CEO.

Freundt was replaced by Arthur Hoeld, who took connected the relation arsenic president and CEO connected July 1. Hoeld joined Puma from Adidas, wherever helium astir precocious served arsenic an enforcement committee subordinate liable for planetary sales. The C-suite alteration came amid slowing income for the diversion giant. In his archetypal connection to shareholders successful October, Hoeld said his strategy entails reducing Puma’s reliance connected wholesale successful favour of expanding its direct-to-consumer channels, some online and successful brick-and-mortar.

In July, Nike brought successful a caller main enforcement serviceman for Converse, which has been somewhat of an underachiever successful presumption of its gross publication to the institution implicit the years. Aaron Cain, a 21-year Nike Inc. veteran, took implicit the apical occupation astatine Converse. He succeeded Jared Carver, who decided to permission the marque aft lone 2 years arsenic CEO. The announcement came via an interior memo from Nike president and CEO Elliott Hill, who has been making sweeping changes to his enactment roster crossed each of the company’s divisions since assuming the helm successful October 2024.