Designer Brands names Laura Denk as DSW president

Designer Brands announced on Monday the appointment of Laura Denk as president of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and executive vice president of Designer Brands. 

In this role, effective as of July 24, Denk will be responsible for leading DSW’s nearly 500 U.S. store locations and e-commerce channel. In particular, she will lead the day-to-day leadership of DSW, and will help to elevate Designer Brands’ Owned Brands and top National Brands. 

“I am confident in Laura’s ability to lead the DSW organization forward in ways that will further elevate and grow the profile of our Owned Brands, while ensuring we maintain our critical, core relationships with our top National Brands within our retail footprint,” said Designer Brands’ chief executive officer, Doug Howe, who Denk will report to. 
 
“Our 30 million loyalty customers can expect an exciting future ahead for DSW, with Laura’s expertise driving us to the next phase of growth, while maintaining our position as a leader in the footwear space.”

Denk has a background in merchandising, an affinity for building strong vendor partnerships, and experience in augmenting customer experiences and elevating private brands. 

Most recently, she served as chief merchandising officer and executive vice president at Michaels Stores, Inc. Prior to that, she was Michaels’ general merchandise manager. She has also held leadership positions at Claire’s Stores, Inc. and Macy’s, Inc.

“I am thrilled to be joining DSW at such an exciting time in DSW’s journey to becoming a brand builder, while leveraging its strong footprint of stores and omni-channel platform,” said Denk. 

“The opportunity to partner with the DSW team to transform and reimagine the customer experience, especially by shining a light on Designer Brands’ unique Owned Brands within DSW will help us build value for our customers and our shareholders.  I am continually impressed by the breadth of assortment and must-have brands, coupled with a convenient and easy shopping experience, and I look forward to jumping right into the business.”