Genesco on Tuesday said it has formed Journeys Global Retail Group, uniting its Journeys, Schuh and Little Burgundy banners. The alignment solidifies Genesco’s position as the world’s leading style-led, youth footwear retail group that will have sharp focus on the female customer.

Journeys president Andy Gray has been promoted to CEO of Journeys Global Retail Group. Journeys executive vice president and chief merchandising officer Chris Santaella has been named chief merchandising officer of the new retail group. Santaella’s role will see him lead product strategies and merchant teams across the new group. The current leadership teams at Schuh and Little Burgendy will remain in their roles, reporting up through this new organization.

“We see clear opportunities in every market to grow share by reaching more consumers as we strengthen our brand awareness and elevate our experiences, Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco’s chairman, president and CEO, said. “With unified global leadership, we will maximize opportunities, strengthen market positioning with the consumer, and drive even greater growth with our brand partners.”

Andy and Chris are the right leaders for this new organization, building on their tremendous success in repositioning Journeys, their extensive experience in athletic and fashion footwear, their expansive brand partner relationships, and strong connection to youth culture.”

Vaughn said the success of Gray and Santaella in repositioning Journeys and their experience in athletic and fashion footwear, plus expansive brand partner relationships and strong connection to youth culture, make them the right choices to lead this new group.

Gray joined Journeys as president in January 2024. Previously, he has over 20 years at Foot Locker in senior roles that include global president, chief commercial office and chief merchandising officer. Santaella joined Journeys in February 2024 as executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Previously, he was at Foot Locker for more than three decades leading global product strategies, most recently as senior vice president and chief merchandising officer.

The repositioning of Journeys last year under Gray’s leadership included evolving its all-access loyalty program and plans for an updated store design, while Santaella’s expertise brought in new shoe styles and investments in fashion athletic and casual brands.

Their efforts began to show some green shoots last year when the Nashville, Tenn.-based Genesco posted fourth quarter results this past March. That report said that Genesco ended the quarter with a 1 percent increase in net sales to $746 million, led by a 5 percent increase in sales at Journeys. By June of this year, first quarter fiscal 2026 total net sales rose 3.6 percent to $474 million, again driven by a 5 percent increase at Journeys. Vaughn said at the time that the Journeys’ strategic plan to accelerate growth and increase market share continued to gain traction. And in the most recent second quarter report in August, total net sales for the footwear firm rose 4 percent to $546 million, with the contribution from Journeys even greater as its net sales rose 6 percent.

At the time, Vaughn in a conference call to Wall Street analysts said the Journey’s target teen customer was responding well to categories that the banner historically has not offered in the past, citing to lifestyle running as one example. Also helping was the inclusion at Journeys of some new brands to its merchandise mix, such as Hoka. She also said the Journeys’ customers are willing to pay higher prices for must-have product, despite the backdrop of economic uncertainty.