Caleres Taps Luxury Veteran Kristen Sosa to Helm Premium Brands

ST. LOUIS, MO – February 03, 2026 – Footwear giant Caleres (NYSE: CAL) has signaled a significant strategic acceleration into the luxury and contemporary market with the appointment of Kristen Sosa to the newly created position of Division President of Brand Portfolio - New York Brands. The move places a seasoned luxury executive at the helm of some of the company’s most valuable assets, including the recently acquired Stuart Weitzman, Allen Edmonds, Franco Sarto, and Vince, indicating a concerted effort to drive growth and profitability in its high-margin segment.

Sosa, who brings three decades of experience from top-tier fashion houses, will report directly to Caleres President and CEO Jay Schmidt. Her oversight of this specific collection of "New York Brands" underscores a new organizational focus designed to cultivate and expand the company's premium offerings.

A Strategic Pivot to Premium

The creation of this new divisional presidency is more than a simple personnel change; it represents a deliberate strategic pivot for the nearly 150-year-old company. Caleres is sharpening its focus on its Brand Portfolio segment, which has become the primary engine for profit growth, even as its larger Famous Footwear segment faces market headwinds. In fiscal year 2023, the Brand Portfolio delivered its best-ever annual adjusted operating earnings and saw its gross margin expand by over 500 basis points, demonstrating the segment's powerful contribution to the bottom line.

This strategic direction was crystallized with the company’s recent acquisition of Stuart Weitzman from competitor Tapestry, Inc., a deal finalized in August 2025 for $120.2 million. Caleres executives have positioned the acquisition as a cornerstone of their "acquisition-led premiumization" strategy, designed to accelerate the company’s shift towards premium, international, and direct-to-consumer sales channels. With the addition of Stuart Weitzman, the Brand Portfolio is projected to generate over half of the company’s total operating profit, making dedicated and expert leadership for this division paramount.

"Kristen is a proven merchant leader with deep experience in fashion across all channels, particularly with expertise in contemporary and luxury,” said Jay Schmidt, President and CEO of Caleres, in a statement. “She has a strong track record of launching, scaling, and revitalizing businesses. 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.”

The Power Player Behind the Push

Kristen Sosa’s extensive resume makes her uniquely suited to lead this charge. Her career is a testament to her deep understanding of the luxury and contemporary fashion landscape. Most recently, she served as CEO, North America at Zadig & Voltaire, where she was responsible for driving growth across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Before that, as President of the Americas at Marc Jacobs, she led both retail and wholesale strategy for the iconic brand.

Her foundational experience was forged during more than two decades at Saks Fifth Avenue. There, she rose through the ranks to hold senior leadership roles including Executive Vice President, Chief Merchant, and Head of Digital. Her time leading Saks' digital strategy and her earlier role helping to scale the luxury e-commerce startup Olivela provide her with critical expertise in the online channels that are vital to modern luxury retail. This digital fluency is especially relevant as Caleres' Brand Portfolio already derives approximately 72% of its net sales from direct-to-consumer channels.

Sosa’s proven ability to manage multi-channel distribution, develop merchandising strategies for world-renowned brands, and scale digital operations aligns perfectly with the challenges and opportunities facing Caleres' premium portfolio.

"I am excited to lead these powerful brands at such an important time for Caleres,” Sosa stated. “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.”

Navigating a Complex Luxury Landscape

Sosa takes the helm of a diverse group of brands, each with its own unique position in the market. Allen Edmonds, a stalwart in premium men's footwear, has been a consistent performer, recently marking its 12th consecutive quarter of positive growth. The newly acquired Stuart Weitzman is expected to become a "lead brand" for Caleres, leveraging its global recognition in accessible luxury. Meanwhile, brands like Franco Sarto, Vince, Veronica Beard, and Favorite Daughter hold what the company describes as "substantial growth potential" in the competitive contemporary space.

Her appointment is the latest in a series of moves to build a dedicated leadership team for this segment, following the hiring of Nancy Bitetto, formerly of Tory Burch and Prada, as Senior Vice President of New York Brands in late 2024. Together, they will navigate a complex and rapidly evolving market. Key trends shaping the industry include the relentless growth of e-commerce, increasing consumer demand for sustainability, and the need for resilient and diversified supply chains—a point Caleres has addressed with its goal to significantly reduce sourcing from China.

To succeed, Sosa will need to ensure these brands resonate with a modern consumer who prioritizes "newness" in fashion—from loafers and ballet flats to fashion sneakers—while also engaging them through sophisticated digital marketing and social media campaigns. With this strategic hire, Caleres is betting that Sosa’s leadership is the key to unlocking the full potential of its premium portfolio and solidifying its position as a dominant force in the global footwear market.