The executive was most recently president of Famous Footwear, and succeeds long-time Rack Room president and CEO Mark Lardie, who is retiring.The executive was most recently president of Famous Footwear, and succeeds long-time Rack Room president and CEO Mark Lardie, who is retiring.
Rack Room Shoes has named a new chief executive officer to succeed long-time president and CEO Mark Lardie.
The shoe retailer said Mike Edwards was appointed to take over the helm following an extensive search led Spencer Stuart and Manfred Kroneder, vice chairman of the Deichmann Group, the footwear retailer’s parent firm.
After 14 years at Rack Room, Lardie’s last day was on Friday. Lardie, who advised on the CEO search, will be honored at June’s Two Ten Gala, where he will receive the 2026 A.A. Bloom Memorial Award. The award recognizes an individual whose hard work, dedication and initiative have furthered the mission of the foundation.
“Mark Lardie’s dedication and insight have been critical to Rack Room Shoes’ success in the U.S. market,” Deichmann said. “Mike Edwards is a dynamic leader with a deep understanding of today’s retail landscape. We’re excited to see him build on Mark’s legacy and take Rack Room Shoes to new heights of innovation and excellence, including potential acquisitions, as we continue to grow our U.S. footprint.”
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The plan is for Edwards to work with Kroneder on a strategy “designed to build on the retailer’s strong foundation and accelerates its ongoing focus on growth and innovation,” Rack Room said.
Edwards is a veteran retail executive with more than two decades of experience and a strong track record of driving growth via a consumer-focused strategy, digital innovation and operational leadership. As president of Famous Footwear, he led enterprise strategy across merchandising, marketing, e-commerce and store operations after more than a decade of progressive leadership role within the Caleres organization.
“Mark Lardie and his leadership have built an incredibly impressive foundation, and I look forward to building on that success,” Edwards said. “My focus will be on accelerating our growth and ensuring Rack Room Shoes remains a leader in the footwear industry by continuing to innovate and exceed customer expectations.”
The Charlotte, N.C.-based retailer has been in operation for over 100 years. It counts more than 500 doors nationwide under the Rack Room Shoes and Off Broadway Shoe Warehouse brands. The retailer said it is committed to new opportunities for innovation to better serve its customers, including a commitment to developing new strategies that anticipate shifts in the market and consumer behavior.
Last year, Rack Room elevated Brian Burnett to senior vice president, chief merchandise officer, and Molly Hartney to the newly created role of chief digital officer. The promotions were part of the retailer’s initiative on realigning its merchandising and digital strategies.
