Genesco appoints Tomas Petersson as president of Schuh

Genesco has named Tomas Petersson as president of its U.K. footwear retailer Schuh, succeeding longtime executive Colin Temple, who is retiring after 38 years with the business.

Petersson will join the company this month and will work alongside Temple during a transition period before assuming leadership of the youth-focused footwear retailer. He will report to Andy Gray, chief executive of the Journeys Global Retail Group, which brings together Genesco’s Journeys, Schuh and Little Burgundy banners under a unified leadership structure.

Petersson joins from Foot Locker, where he most recently served as senior vice president and general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, overseeing the company’s largest international business. He also previously led Foot Locker’s premium sneaker banner Atmos as global general manager and has held senior roles at Intersport and Puma

“I am honored to join schuh and the Genesco family at such an exciting time. I would like to thank Andy Gray and the leadership team for the opportunity and the confidence they have placed in me. Colin and the team have built an outstanding business with a unique culture, exceptional people and strong brand partnerships,” said Petersson. 

“I look forward to building on that foundation, accelerating growth, strengthening our footwear strategy, and delivering an even better experience for our customers, colleagues and brand partners.”

Temple leaves after nearly four decades with the retailer, having joined Schuh as a merchandiser in 1988 before becoming managing director in 2002 and later president.

Last month, Genesco reported a 3% uptick in sales to $487 million for the first quarter, with the U.S.-based footwear firm logging growth across its entire portfolio excluding Schuh, where sales were down 5%.