Footasylum announces change of leadership
Footasylum has announced that its chief executive Barry Bown is to step down and take up a consultancy role with the sportswear brand’s owner, Aurelius.
Bown joined Footasylum in 2018 after a 30-year career at JD Sports where he was chief executive for the last 14 years of the period.
In his new position, he will continue to use his industry knowledge and expertise to support the growth of Footasylum and other Aurelius portfolio companies.
Bown said: “Footasylum is an incredible business and I’ve been privileged to lead it for nearly six years. It has been rewarding and challenging in equal measure and, under Aurelius’s ownership, we now have exceptionally strong foundations and a clear strategy for future growth.
“Today, Footasylum is profitable, expanding rapidly, and has a prominent presence on high streets and in iconic retail destinations across the UK. Against that backdrop, the time is right for me to step aside from the day-to-day running of the business, almost 40 years after I first started out in this industry.”
He will be succeeded as Footasylum chief executive by David Pujolar who has been general manager of the AW LAB streetwear, sportswear and lifestyle retailer since 2016. AW LAB has more than 270 shops in Italy, Spain and Portugal, and is part of the Bata Group.
Prior to this, he held a number of leadership positions in buying and merchandising at Adidas, Tommy Hilfiger and Foot Locker.
Bown added: “I am delighted that someone of David’s calibre will take up the role of CEO and am confident that he is the right person to take charge of Footasylum’s exciting next chapter. I also have no doubt that the incredible leadership team I leave behind will support him in taking the business to new heights. I am looking forward to providing support to the business through my new consultancy role with Aurelius.”
The news follows a strong trading period for Footasylum in the 12 months to January 2024 when it posted a revenue increase of 7% to £320 million to mark a year of record growth. Furthermore, EBITDA rose by 38% to an all time high of £22 million.
Tobias Klaiber, managing director at Aurelius, said: “We are thrilled to witness Footasylum continuing its growth journey and solidifying its unique position as a disruptive entertainer, brand incubator, and youth influencer. The record financial results validate our strategic direction, demonstrating the success of our operational transformation and growth initiatives.
“We would like to express our gratitude to Barry for his strong commitment over the years and are pleased to have him as a consultant to the team. With David, we are confident that we have an exceptional successor who will help realise the ambitious goals we have set for this business moving forward.”
