Levi Strauss Hires Skechers Veteran John Vandemore as Finance Chief
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Levi Strauss & Co. Named John Vandemore as executive vice president and chief financial officer on Wednesday. He joins the apparel maker after a nine-year stint at footwear group Skechers.
Vandemore assumes the post on November 1. The San Francisco-based apparel maker wants to hit $10 billion in annual revenue, up from $6.3 billion recorded in 2025.
At Skechers, Vandemore helped build the business into the world’s third-largest footwear brand. Net sales there reached nearly $9 billion across more than 180 countries and 5,000 retail locations. In his new role, he will oversee global accounting, financial planning, investor relations, tax, treasury, digital operations, information technology and supply chain logistics. Harmit Singh announced his retirement in April after serving as chief financial and growth officer. Singh stays in office until Vandemore starts, then serves as a special advisor through November 30.
Building Out Direct Retail Channels
Levi Strauss currently operates roughly 3,300 retail stores and shop-in-shops across 120 countries. Chief executive Michelle Gass joined from Kohl’s Corp. And has pushed direct-to-consumer sales, mono-brand retail stores, and expansions into women’s tops and athleisure through the Beyond Yoga label. Footwear brands built direct consumer networks faster than traditional denim wholesalers did. Vandemore’s background in retail store expansion fits that jeans strategy directly.
Mall operators and franchise partners across Asia-Pacific and Europe will see continued real estate spending on full-price flagship stores rather than wholesale distribution deals. Execution costs carry risk. Operating company-owned stores ties up working capital and lifts lease liabilities in volatile retail markets.
“Net sales there reached nearly $9 billion across more than 180 countries and 5,000 retail locations.”
Shifting Away from Pure Wholesale
Over the last decade, the company pivoted from a wholesale men’s denim supplier into a broader multi-category retailer. Singh and former chief executive Chip Bergh led that transition. They took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2019 and rebuilt profitability.
Wholesale accounts now share shelf space with company-owned retail stores, digital platforms and regional franchise operations. Hiring a finance chief with direct operational oversight of logistics and store real estate aligns the balance sheet with Gass’s direct-selling push.
Cross-Industry Executive Shifts
Before Skechers, Vandemore served as executive vice president and CFO of global brands and commercial sales at Mattel Inc. He previously held finance leadership roles at International Game Technology and The Walt Disney Company, where he was chief financial officer of Walt Disney Imagineering. His early career began at PricewaterhouseCoopers, followed by finance positions at Deloitte & Touche, Goldman Sachs and AlixPartners.
Gass noted that Vandemore’s operational track record equips him to expand the brand into a broader global lifestyle business. She added that he can deliver that growth while protecting operating margins.
Targets and Next Filings
Managing capital expenditure will be the first test as store rollouts continue across international markets. Investors will watch whether Levi Strauss can protect profit margins while moving inventory away from department store partners and into its own shops.
Singh wraps up his advisory work on November 30. Vandemore then delivers his first full quarterly financial blueprint to Wall Street analysts in early 2027.
Questions & Answers
Q.What is Levi Strauss & Co.'s financial target, and what was their revenue in the last recorded period?
What is Levi Strauss & Co.'s financial target, and what was their revenue in the last recorded period?
Levi Strauss & Co. Aims to achieve $10 billion in annual revenue. This represents an increase from the $6.3 billion recorded by the company in 2025, indicating a significant growth ambition for the future.
Q.Which specific areas of the business will John Vandemore be responsible for in his new role?
Which specific areas of the business will John Vandemore be responsible for in his new role?
As the new finance chief, John Vandemore will oversee global accounting, financial planning, and investor relations. His responsibilities also extend to tax, treasury, digital operations, information technology, and supply chain logistics for the company.
Q.What is the key strategy Levi Strauss is employing regarding its retail presence and distribution?
What is the key strategy Levi Strauss is employing regarding its retail presence and distribution?
The company is focusing on building out direct retail channels, including mono-brand stores and direct-to-consumer sales. They plan continued real estate spending on full-price flagship stores, shifting away from a pure wholesale model.
Q.When will John Vandemore present his first full financial report to analysts?
When will John Vandemore present his first full financial report to analysts?
John Vandemore will deliver his initial comprehensive quarterly financial blueprint to Wall Street analysts in early 2027. This presentation will follow the completion of Harmit Singh's advisory work at the end of November.