Foot Locker, Inc. announced on Wednesday that Franklin Bracken, currently executive vice president and chief commercial officer, has been appointed to the role of president, effective immediately. 

Bracken will continue reporting to Mary Dillon, Foot Locker’s chief executive officer. 

In his new role, the president will work alongside Dillon on the execution of the firm’s “Lace Up Plan”, aimed to elevate the omni-retail experience, enhance productivity, and create long-term shareholder value. Bracken will also continue to oversee global retail operations, merchandising, marketing, digital, loyalty, and real estate.

With over 30 years of experience in brand management, consulting, digital transformation, marketing, merchandising, and retail operations, Bracken joined Foot Locker in 2010 and has since held several senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility across the company.

Prior to Foot Locker, Bracken held senior management roles at The Coca-Cola Company, SABMiller, and began his career as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

“We are delighted to recognize Frank’s leadership and valuable contributions to Foot Locker, Inc. with this appointment,” said Dillon.

“Over his 15-year tenure, Frank has led several important initiatives across the business, including playing a critical role in the development and execution of our Lace Up Plan, building our brand partnerships, and advancing our omnichannel capabilities. I look forward to continuing to partner with him in his new role as we execute our strategies, further our significant progress in advancing the Lace Up Plan, and create sustained value for our stakeholders.”

Foot Locker is a U.S.-based specialty footwear retailer which today boasts some 2,400 retail stores in 26 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, and a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

“It’s an honor to be named president as we continue building on the momentum of our Lace Up Plan,” said Bracken. “Looking ahead to the remainder of 2025 and beyond, we are well-positioned to accelerate our progress and deliver on our long-term operational and financial goals as we enter the next phase of execution. We remain committed to expanding sneaker culture and elevating the omnichannel experience for our customers and brand partners, and I’m confident our proven consumer-focused initiatives will further deepen customer engagement, strengthen our market position, and drive meaningful business results.”

In its most recenting trading update earlier this month, Foot Locker announced a fourth-quarter sales drop of 5.8%, in the three months ended February 1.

The company, which operates Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Atmos and WSS, said sales reached $2,243 million, as compared with sales of $2,380 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.  
 

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled her latest budget — or the Spring Statement as it’s officially known — and while she stuck to earlier promises not to increase taxes on working people, there was little good news to be had.

For a start, it looks like the economy will remain sluggish and that’s likely to depressed consumer spending. Reeves said this year’s growth estimate for the UK economy has been halved to 1% by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). 

And while earlier news on Wednesday about inflation was encouraging, it remains above what the OBR had predicted back in the autumn, although Reeves said it should be on target to reach the desired 2% by 2027. That’s down from a peak of 11% that it reached under the last government.

Much of the heavy lifting in terms of big announcements affecting fashion and retail was done in the Autumn Budget so there were few surprises this time. There was also little said about issues that directly affect the fashion and retail sectors. There was no mention of that big bugbear for the industry, business rates, nor of any intention to restore tax-free shopping for tourists.

The Autumn Budget had said small retail businesses will receive a 40% relief on business rates with the current 75% discount expiring next month.

The Chancellor clearly has little wiggle room and re-emphasised that “the global economy has become more uncertain”. This has impacted the UK economy but she said that the country’s “fiscal rules are non-negotiable. They are the embodiment of this government’s unwavering commitment to bring stability to our economy”. That contrasts with some other countries, such as Germany for instance, where certain rules have been torn up in the current circumstances.

Reeves did announce “increasing capital spending by an average of £2 billion per year compared to the Autumn to drive growth in our economy and deliver in full our vital commitments on defence” but said “overall, day-to-day spending will be reduced by £6.1 billion by 2029-30 and it will now grow by an average of 1.2% a year above inflation compared to 1.3% in the Autumn”.

There are cuts being made to welfare spending that the OBR said will save £4.8 billion and that will affect the spending power of a large number of people in lower income groups.

Importantly though, despite the general gloom, Reeves added: “I am pleased that the OBR confirm today that Real Household Disposable Income will now grow this year at almost twice the rate expected in the autumn. And living standards will rise twice as fast this parliament compared to the last.”

And the industry reaction? Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, repeated her concerns about tax-raising policies that were announced back in the autumn and also said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to ‘drive growth in the economy’ and the retail industry is keen to play its part in this mission. As the Chancellor aims to drive down the number of those who are ‘economically inactive’, there is a need for better routes back into work for those that want or need it after a period of inactivity. The retail industry provides a perfect solution. It is filled with people joining and returning to the workforce. It offers local, flexible jobs, often requiring few qualifications, and part-time jobs that allow people to find their feet, work as much or as little as they are able, and balance work with other important life commitments.

“But the costs from the Budget, and uncertainty about how the Employment Rights Bill and new business rates policy will be implemented, mean it will be much harder for retailers to keep creating these kinds of jobs. So the government should avoid unintended consequences and provide clarity about the implementation of these policies as soon as possible.”

And Dee Corsi, head of the New west End Company, added: “Today’s Spring Statement underscores the harsh reality; that the UK’s economic outlook remains challenging and the support many businesses urgently need is still missing. While we welcome government action to support growth through initiatives like the recent Planning and Infrastructure Bill, for businesses on flagship high streets like those we represent in the West End, there’s an urgent need for more holistic policies to reduce the burdens they face.

“Key to this is the looming hike in business rates, which is a major barrier to the government’s growth agenda, threatening to hit retail, hospitality, and leisure businesses hardest, with potentially devastating consequences. Just as important is the continued absence of tax-free shopping, which cost West End businesses £640m last year, hampering the UK’s global competitiveness and stalling any growth potential.

“We urge the Government to reconsider their proposed reforms [in order] to protect businesses on flagship UK high streets, attract inward investment, and support national and local growth.”

Salomon has announced the appointment of Nick Parkinson as its new global brand creative director, bringing two decades of industry experience to the outdoor and performance brand.

In this role, Parkinson will collaborate with Salomon’s executive board and product leadership team to develop and execute a brand creative strategy across all consumer touchpoints, platforms, channels, and regions.

“Nick is a super inspired creative. His global experience in the spaces we want to win was the proof in our hyper-focused selection process. Having interviewed some of the finest creative minds in the industry I am confident that Nick is the needed fuel to realize our objectives across the entire consumer journey,” said Scott Mellin, global chief brand officer, Salomon.

Parkinson has played a key role in repositioning leading running brands and recently led the reactive creative strategy during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Beginning his career as a graphic designer in the UK, he moved to Amsterdam in 2010 as an art director. 

He joins the company from Nike Inc., where he has held various creative leadership roles over a 15-year tenure, including global art director, global design director, and creative director for various categories such as Nike running, Jordan brand, Nike football, and Converse.  

Parkinson added: “I come from a family of engineers and love problem-solving through design. Salomon is at an inflection point where it can progress to the next level by building on its rich heritage of performance and athletes and translate that into the world of culture and sportstyle. I’m excited to help power that through amazing storytelling!”

In November, Salomon appointed Guillaume Meyzenq as CEO, leading the brand as of this year.