Diane M Sullivan

Diane Sullivan leads Caleres, a $2.6 billion global company that designs, makes and sells some of the world’s most popular footwear brands, including Sam Edelman, Naturalizer, Allen Edmonds, Diane von Furstenberg, Famous Footwear, Franco Sarto, Vince and Via Spiga. Under Sullivan’s strategic direction, Caleres operates a growing, diverse and focused portfolio of strong consumer brands. Sullivan joined Caleres (then Brown Shoe Company) as president in 2004 and served as chief operating officer from 2006. In 2007, Sullivan was elected to the board of directors, and became chief executive officer in 2011. She was named chairman of the board in 2014. Her more than two decades of experience in the footwear industry include serving as vice chairman of Phillips-Van Heusen’s Footwear Group and president and COO of the Stride Rite Corporation. She also was vice president of product and marketing for The Rockport Company. Prior to entering the footwear industry, Sullivan worked in key sales and brand management positions at the consumer products company Mars, Inc. and The Mennen Company. Sullivan serves on the boards of the Two Ten Footwear Foundation (Chair) and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY). She is also one of the founders of Two Ten's Women in Footwear Industry community (WIFI). She currently serves on the boards of BJC HealthCare, Enterprise Holdings and Washington University. She is a member of Civic Progress, an organization of CEOs working to improve the quality of community and business life in the St. Louis region. Sullivan was named to Footwear News’ Most Powerful Women in the Shoe Industry list in 2016 and ranked in the top five of the publication’s Power 100 list of Most Influential Designers, Influencers and Leaders in the Shoe Industry in 2015 and 2016. She received the 2013 Business Visionary Award from the Accessories Council and was named Footwear News’ Person of the Year. Sullivan received her M.B.A. from Babson College and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston College. She has presented as a guest lecturer at Saint Louis University, Washington University and Webster University and has served as Executive in Residence at the University of Missouri. Sullivan has been married to her husband Mike for more than 30 years and has two married children, Allie and Caley. She enjoys yoga and spending time with her family. She resides in St. Louis and Westport, Conn., and both homes – of course- include a closetful of great shoes!