Old Navy founder takes the helm of Rothy’s as creators step aside

(Source: Rothy’s)

Sustainable footwear and accessories retailer Rothy’s has appointed Jenny Ming as CEO and Dayna Quanbeck as president.

Ming previously served on the 1994 founding team of Old Navy and was the firm’s first president between 1999 and 2006. She later served as president and CEO of Charlotte Russe from 2009 to 2019.

An independent director on Rothy’s board of directors since June 2022, Ming has been working closely with Rothy’s executive team to identify growth opportunities and operational efficiencies. 

Meanwhile, Quanbeck has been chief financial officer and chief operating officer at Rothy’s. In her new role, she will continue to oversee the deployment of growth capital and manage the company’s finance, logistics, data analytics, retail, international and technology divisions.

The appointments were announced after co-founder and CEO Stephen Hawthornthwaite and co-founder and president Roth Martin transitioned to chair of the board and chief creative and innovation officer. 

“After years spent laying the foundation for long-term profitable growth, we can confidently say that now is the right moment to empower our talented team to take Rothy’s into the future,” said Hawthornthwaite.

“Jenny is a seasoned operator with an exceptional track record in scaling global retail businesses. Coupled with Dayna’s deep knowledge of our business, having the two lead the next chapter at Rothy’s is a major win for our company, customers and team.”

Founded in 2012 and launched in 2016, Rothy’s is known for its sustainable shoes crafted from single-use plastic bottles. The company currently serves a global community of more than 3 million through its e-commerce platform, more than 20 retail stores and footprint in 19 countries. 

In December 2021, Brazil’s Alpargatas SA made a strategic investment of $200 million in primary capital followed by an offering to acquire approximately $275 million of Rothy’s shares.

The leadership transition follows Rothy’s “significant improvement” in gross margin and profitability. The company plans to open 10 new retail doors and continue broader global expansion this year.

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