Mimi Eckel Vaughn, 53, currently Genesco’s senior vice president and COO, will become the company’s next president and CEO, effective Feb. 2, 2020, the start of its new fiscal year. Vaughn, who will succeed Robert J. Dennis, will be the 12th president and CEO in the company’s 95-year history.
“Mimi’s has a proven track record as an exceptional leader demonstrated through successive roles at Genesco, including heading our corporate strategy and shared services areas, serving as CFO, and most recently, leading the company as COO,” states Dennis. “I look forward to supporting Mimi and the entire management team as we work together to continue Genesco’s terrific positive momentum we have experienced since we divested Lids in February.”
Vaughn joined Genesco as vice president – strategy and business development in 2003, was promoted to senior vice president – strategy and business development in 2006, and was named senior vice president – strategy and shared services in 2009. Vaughn became CFO in 2015, and was named Genesco’s COO in January 2018.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Genesco forward as we enter the next chapter of our company’s growth creating and curating leading footwear brands,” states Vaughn. “I look forward to working with Bob, our management team, and with our tremendously talented and dedicated employees to build on the company’s strong foundation and most recent success and continue to execute on our strategic vision to build shareholder value as a leading footwear-focused company.”
Prior to joining Genesco, Vaughn was executive vice president of business development and marketing, and acting CFO for Link2Gov Corporation in Nashville, TN. From 1993 to 1999, she was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, based in Atlanta. During her tenure at McKinsey, Vaughn advised senior executives and board members, specializing in the consumer and retail sectors. Before joining McKinsey, Vaughn held corporate finance positions at Goldman Sachs & Co., Wasserstein Perella & Co., and Drexel Burnham Lambert. Vaughn received a bachelor of science degree in foreign service and international economics from Georgetown University magna cum laude and earned a master of business administration degree from Harvard Business School, where she graduated with distinction.
