TOPEKA, Kan., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Stride Rite
Corporation of Collective Brands, Inc. today announced that it has hired
Gregg Ribatt as the president and chief executive officer for The Stride
Rite Corporation reporting to Matt Rubel, president and chief executive
officer of Collective, to lead and direct the growth and brand-building of
Stride Rite's premium lifestyle, athletic and children's brands including
Stride Rite(R), Keds(R), Sperry Top-Sider(R), Robeez(R), and Saucony(R),
among others.
Ribatt, 39, most recently president and chief executive officer of
Stuart Weitzman Holdings, LLC, will start in this role Jan. 7. He will be
responsible for managing all operational aspects for Stride Rite's business
including product design and development, growth of its premier brands, as
well as the operation of approximately 300 Stride Rite stores. Rick
Thornton, who was president and chief operating officer of Stride Rite
since 2003, has left the organization to pursue other opportunities.
"Gregg Ribatt is a fourth generation footwear industry expert with
proven experience in driving strong business results from his strategic
work developing and growing Bennett Footwear Group and its stable of brands
such as Franco Sarto, Via Spiga, and Etienne Aigner, among others," said
Matt Rubel, president and chief executive officer, Collective Brands, Inc.
"We are thrilled to have Gregg join the Collective team and look forward to
his leadership, strategy and vision with the Stride Rite business."
Ribatt was hired as president and chief operating officer of Stuart
Weitzman Holdings, LLC in 2006 and promoted to chief executive officer in
2007. At Stuart Weitzman, Ribatt oversaw the company's day-to-day
operations including the expansion of the company's retail, handbag and
licensing businesses. Prior to joining Stuart Weitzman, Ribatt worked for
Bennett Footwear Group. Over the course of his 13 years at Bennett, Ribatt
held various positions within the organization. Prior to the company's sale
to Brown Shoe in 2005, Ribatt was the executive vice president and chief
operating officer for Bennett. During his tenure there, he and a small
partner group expanded the company's branded business acquiring and
successfully growing brands such as Franco Sarto, Via Spiga, and Etienne
Aigner. Ribatt also led Bennett's sale to Brown Shoe and remained on staff
at Brown to facilitate a successful transition of the business. Ribatt
holds a bachelor of arts from Wesleyan University and a masters of business
administration from The University of Chicago.
Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS) is a leader in bringing compelling
lifestyle, fashion and performance brands for footwear and related
accessories to consumers worldwide. The company operates three strategic
units covering a powerful brand portfolio, as well as multiple price points
and selling channels including retail, wholesale, ecommerce and licensing.
Collective Brands, Inc. includes Payless ShoeSource, focused on
democratizing fashion and design in footwear and accessories through its
more than 4,500-store retail chain, with its brands American Eagle(R),
Airwalk(R), Dexter(R), Champion(R) and designer collections Abaete for
Payless, Lela Rose for Payless and alice + olivia for Payless, among
others; Stride Rite, focused on lifestyle and athletic branded footwear and
high-quality children's footwear sold primarily through wholesaling, with
its brands including Stride Rite(R), Keds(R), Sperry Top-Sider(R),
Robeez(R), and Saucony(R), among others; and Collective Licensing
International, the brand development, management and global licensing unit,
with such youth lifestyle brands as Airwalk(R), Vision Street Wear(R),
Lamar(R), Sims(R), LTD(R), genetic(TM), Dukes(R), Rage(R), Ultra-Wheels(R),
and Skate Attack(R). Information about, and links for shopping on, each of
the Collective Brand's units can be found at
http://www.collectivebrands.com.
SOURCE Collective Brands, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.collectivebrands.com
CONTACT:
media, Mardi Larson, +1-612-928-0202, or
finance, James Grant, +1-785-559-5321, both for Collective
Brands, Inc.
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