Foot Locker reshuffles leadership structure, adds new C-suite roles

By

Robin Driver

Published
Nov 19, 2021

American sports and footwear retailer Foot Locker, Inc. announced on Thursday that it has promoted Franklin R. Bracken to the newly created role of chief operating officer. In parallel, the company has also created the role of chief strategy, innovation, and development officer, and begun a search for an executive to fill the new position.

 
“The addition of these key roles creates a more streamlined and agile organizational structure that builds on the success of our geo-focused growth strategy,” explained Foot Locker chairman and CEO, Richard A. Johnson, in a release. “We will be in a stronger position to address new and emerging opportunities and to grow our connectivity with our consumers and the communities we serve.”
 
In his new role, Bracken will be responsible for overseeing Foot Locker’s operations around the world, as well as its omnichannel customer experience. He will report to Johnson.

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Bracken first joined Foot Locker as VP for marketing at Champs Sports in 2010 and most recently served as CEO of Foot Locker North America, a role that he has held since July 2020. His other previous roles at the company have included SVP and general manager of Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker in the U.S., and VP and general manager of Foot Locker Canada, among other senior leadership positions.

Prior to joining Foot Locker, Bracken spent five years at The Coca-Cola Company and two at the Miller Brewing Company. The executive, who holds a BBA from the University of Michigan, an MBA from Georgetown University and a Master of Marketing from the University of Melbourne, began his career as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.
 
As Bracken steps into his new responsibilities at Foot Locker, Susan J. Kuhn has also been promoted from the position of SVP and general manager of Foot Locker Europe to the role of president of EMEA and general manager of Foot Locker Europe. In her new position, Kuhn will oversee the Foot Locker Europe and Sidestep brands. She will report to Bracken.
 
Kuhn joined Foot Locker in February 2020, leaving Urban Outfitters, where she had served as executive director for strategy and business development since January 2019. Her previous experience also includes a two-year stint as VP and general manager for digital and direct retail at Nike-owned Converse China. She holds a BA from Linfield University and an MBA from the University of Southern California.
 
In among the shuffle, EVP and chief commercial officer Andrew Gray has picked up some new responsibilities too. As well as leading the company’s commercial function, Gray will now also be tasked with driving product leadership, elevating omni-marketing and accelerating customer and commercial development in order to support Foot Locker’s efforts to achieve its growth targets.
 
The executive has been in his current role since July 2020, having previously served as VP and general manager for Foot Locker and Lady Foot Locker U.S., and VP and general merchandise manager for Foot Locker Europe. He has been with Foot Locker since 2001. Before this, Gray, who holds a BA from Glasgow Caledonian University, held re-buying and vendor management roles at BJ’s Wholesale Club in the United States and Atlantis Relocations in Australia.
 
In the second quarter ended July 31, 2021, Foot Locker reported income of $430 million on revenues of $2.28 billion.