– USA, TN – Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) today announced the appointments of Matt Bilunas and Carolyn Bojanowski to its Board as Independent Directors, effective January 29, 2023.
“I am delighted to welcome seasoned retail executives Matt Bilunas and Carolyn Bojanowski to our Board. We are in a transformative time in the retail industry, and we look forward to their leadership and many contributions. Matt and Carolyn will bring tremendous knowledge and perspectives into the boardroom as we continue our acceleration as a footwear-focused company,” said Chair and CEO, Mimi Vaughn.
Genesco also announced that Matt Diamond and Kevin McDermott will retire from the Board at the 2023 AGM.
About Matthew Bilunas
A greatly respected retail leader with a career spanning 27 years, Matt Bilunas brings a wealth of finance, capital allocation, financial planning and analysis, technical accounting, operations, supply chain, e-commerce, and strategy experience to the Board. During his tenure at Fortune 100 retailer Best Buy, he has held a variety of global finance leadership roles and played a pivotal role in Best Buy’s remarkable transformation.
“I am very pleased to join the Genesco Board at this exciting time for the company. Genesco’s outstanding portfolio of retail and consumer brands and footwear-focused strategy present compelling growth prospects to drive strong financial performance going forward,” said Matt Bilunas.
Matt Bilunas is a 16-year retail veteran, currently serving as EVP, and CFO for Best Buy Co., Inc., the $51.8 billion retailer of technology products, services, and solutions in North America. His executive leadership responsibilities include strategic planning, FP&A, internal audit, accounting, investor relations, treasury, tax, financial services, and procurement. In addition to his extensive global financial expertise, Bilunas is a seasoned operator and strategist, deeply knowledgeable about supply chain and e-commerce operations. He played a critical role in Best Buy’s incredible transformation. He oversaw Best Buy’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering approximately 65% earnings growth from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2022 and a strengthened balance sheet, despite significant disruptions to the company’s business model and macroeconomic uncertainty. Bilunas helped advance the digital growth strategies, which have increased operating profit rate expansion and resulted in e-commerce growing to more than 30% penetration. From 2017 to 2019, he served as Best Buy’s SVP, of Enterprise and Merchandise Finance, a role where he served as the central finance leader, delivering more than $2 billion in cost savings and efficiencies. Bilunas spearheaded the company’s planning process as the enterprise FP&A leader and served as an extended member of the company’s executive team. Bilunas has also played a vital role in positioning Best Buy as a mission-driven company and an Environmental, Social, and Governance leader. He began his career in public accounting at KPMG.
About Carolyn Bojanowski
Carolyn Bojanowski brings to the Board more than 20 years of retail expertise with an outstanding record of driving e-commerce, dotcom merchandising, brand marketing, digital marketing, brand and product development, loyalty, and revenue optimization performance. She played an instrumental role in the introduction of Sephora’s best-in-class Beauty Insider loyalty program. Her leadership and contributions in launching initiatives for the largest prestige beauty e-commerce retailer in the world drove unprecedented growth and industry-first ways to shop.
“It is an exciting time for Genesco. Its well-positioned portfolio of brands, paired with its intense focus on technology, marketing, e-commerce, and compelling omnichannel growth prospects, position the company well for future success,” said Carolyn Bojanowski.
During her 17-year tenure at Sephora USA, a division of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, where she currently serves as EVP Merchandising, Bojanowski has made transformative contributions in omnichannel retailing, e-commerce, merchandising, marketing, and brand and product development. She is now a member of the company’s North American Operating Committee and is responsible for sales through all of Sephora’s channels, including Sephora stores, Sephora.com, and Sephora inside Kohl’s. Bojanowski has led the company’s multi-billion dollar e-commerce business through a period of substantial growth and has had great success driving digital marketing and the company’s industry-leading loyalty program. She has led the company’s dot-com merchandising and marketing, and e-commerce delivery strategy, created new digital partnerships, introduced new payment methods, launched buy online pick up in store and same-day delivery capabilities, and elevated the dotcom client experience in both the U.S. and Canada. A seasoned operator and accomplished strategist, Bojanowski has extensive experience working with over 200 brands and driving growth and innovation at Sephora.
About Genesco Inc.
Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer and branded company sells footwear and accessories in more than 1,410 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Little Burgundy, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites.
In addition, Genesco sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Levi’s brand, the licensed Dockers brand, the licensed Bass brand, and other brands. Genesco is committed to progress in its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and the company’s environmental, social, and governance stewardship.
For more information: https://www.genesco.com/
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