Designer Brands appoints Andrea O’Donnell as brands president
Designer Brands has appointed Andrea O’Donnell to the role of brands president and executive vice president of Designer Brands.
Due to take up her position on 29 January, she will be responsible for Designer Brands’ full range of owned and licensed brands, which includes Keds, Vince Camuto, Hush Puppies, Lucky Brand, and more.
O’Donnell will report directly to Designer Brands’ chief executive Doug Howe and will be responsible for all aspects of the company’s brand portfolio, from design and sourcing to sales, both for wholesale and direct-to-consumer.
She has extensive experience in merchandising, brand marketing and commercial planning and will join the company from fashion retailer Everlane where she has been chief executive since 2021.
Prior to this, O’Donnell led the expansion of Ugg and Koolaburra brands at Deckers as president of fashion lifestyle and also served as president, global merchandising at DFS Group, a multibillion-dollar retailer majority owned by LVMH. She has also previously worked with Lane Crawford, John Lewis, Hackett London, Jaeger and Debenhams.
Howe said, “With Andrea’s appointment as brands president, we are bringing into our organisation a distinctive and crucial skillset that we believe will enable us to accelerate our roadmap as we continue growing as a brand builder.
“Her deep experience and tremendous track record, which includes the revitalization of the powerhouse brand, Ugg, will be a critical asset for us moving forward.
“The passion for design and storytelling she brings to the table will further bolster our strategy of delivering a unique, omni-channel customer experience.”
