Schuh has appointed former Footasylum finance boss Nick Scott as its new chief financial officer, replacing David Gillan-Reid after 28 years in the role.

Scott will join the footwear retailer on 2 November, reporting to Schuh president Tomas Petersson, who took the helm earlier this year.

He brings more than 20 years of financial and operational experience, most recently serving as chief financial officer at Footasylum for three years until April.

During his time at the sportswear retailer, Scott helped oversee its transformation under private equity ownership, including refinancing to support growth, an accelerated store expansion programme and investment in digital operations.

He previously held the position of chief operating financial officer at Baird Group, which owns Suit Direct and holds UK licences for Ben Sherman and Ted Baker formalwear.

Scott said: “I’m delighted to be joining Schuh and the wider Genesco family. Schuh is a brand with real heritage in UK footwear and a deep connection to youth culture.

“This is a fascinating moment for our industry, with trends evolving rapidly and customers shopping across more channels. Schuh’s carefully curated brand partnerships, strong store estate and growing digital presence put it in a great position to meet those changing needs.”

His appointment follows the arrival of Petersson, who joined the Genesco-owned footwear chain in the summer after holding senior roles at Foot Locker, Intersport and Puma.

Petersson thanked outgoing finance chief Gillan-Reid for his contribution to the business over almost three decades.

He said: “He leaves behind a business with strong foundations for its next chapter.

“Nick is an accomplished finance leader with outstanding experience, combining strategic financial expertise, strong commercial acumen, and proven leadership skills.”

Petersson added that Scott’s experience of supporting businesses through periods of change would be valuable as Schuh looks to strengthen its position in the UK footwear market.

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