2010 FN Power 100

Chairman; President, CEO; Nike Inc.
2009 Rank: 1

At Nike’s first investor meeting since 2007, Knight, 72, and Parker, 55, unveiled a plan to grow the firm’s $19.2 billion in sales to $27 billion by 2015. Key to the effort: buying back international distribution for affiliate brands including Cole Haan and Converse; rolling out new retail concepts such as the ones opened this year in Santa Monica, Calif., and at the Roosevelt Field mall in Garden City, N.Y.; and opening concept shops with Finish Line and Dick’s Sporting Goods, as well as an expanded e-commerce push.

Power Players: Charlie Denson, president, Nike Brand; Michael Spillane, CEO, Converse; Dave McTague, CEO, Cole Haan

Designer, Principal; Christian Louboutin
2009 Rank: 5

Double-digit growth isn’t the only way to assess Louboutin’s soaring status. In fact, everyone in Hollywood to Hong Kong appears to be clamoring for his iconic red soles. Perhaps most notable is that through the recession — and in the months since — Louboutin continued to be an ambassador of modern luxury. His attention-grabbing heels proved to be all the rage when thousands of consumers voted Louboutin’s Maralena shoe the winner of Saks Fifth Avenue and FN’s Sexy Shoes contest in October. Meanwhile, on the retail front, the designer is providing more spots to find him: His number of stores will have grown to 32 by January 2011, from 21 at the start of this year.

President; President of merchandising; Nordstrom Inc.
2009 Rank: 2

What a difference a year makes. Following the recession, Nordstrom has registered strong same-store sales increases every month this year, including a 16.8 percent surge in March. For the half-year ended July 31, the group earned $262 million, up 41 percent from 2009. Blake, 50, and Pete, 48, concentrated on working with partners to deliver fashion newness. As a result, their company saw growth across all shoe categories, particularly in women’s. The firm now operates 202 stores in the U.S.

Power Players: Erik Nordstrom, president, stores; Scott Meden, GMM, shoe division; Jeffrey Kalinsky, EVP, designer merchandising

CEO, Chairman; President, COO; Brown Shoe Co.
2009 Rank: 4

This duo clearly knows how to recognize opportunity. Take their full acquisition of Sam Edelman in May, which added one of the industry’s hottest brands to Brown Shoe’s roster. Fromm, 59, and Sullivan, 54, also tapped into the red-hot toning and wellness trend with the launch of the Mind Body Sole retail concept last month and reached out to the eco-conscious consumer with Naya, a new sustainable shoe line. Overall, the company has fared well this year, reporting double-digit sales increases in both retail and wholesale during its second quarter. Famous Footwear, which is marking 50 years, has benefited from trend-right product and fewer markdowns.

Power Players: Rick Ausick, president, Famous Footwear; Mark Lardie, president, wholesale; Dan Friedman, president, wholesale product & sourcing; Jay Schmidt, SVP, better & image brands; Sam Edelman, president, Edelman Shoe; Libby Edelman, SVP, creative director, Edelman Shoe

Chairman, President, CEO; Collective Brands Inc.
2009 Rank: 3

Global expansion was a big priority for Rubel, 53, this year, and his strategy has helped offset challenges with the domestic Payless ShoeSource segment. Two weeks ago, the retailer struck franchise deals in four new markets — Indonesia, Mexico, Malaysia and Singapore — and Payless has built up its base in Latin America. Expect the footprint to get even bigger: The retailer hopes to have 700 stores overseas in the next five years and 1,400 in the long term. The wholesale business, meanwhile, shone this year, with Saucony and Sperry Top-Sider leading the way and the Keds turnaround taking shape. Rubel is also making waves in Washington, D.C. In September, the Obama administration appointed him to the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy & Negotiations.

Power Players: LuAnn Via, president, CEO, Payless ShoeSource; Gregg Ribatt, president, CEO, Collective Brands Performance & Lifestyle Group; Bruce Pettet, president, CEO, Collective Licensing

Chairman, President, CEO; Macy’s Inc.
2009 Rank: 6

Under Lundgren, 58, Macy’s again let its red star shine. It continued to embrace high-profile collaborations and has been successful getting the word out about them, thanks to new star-studded TV commercials. Additionally, Macy’s became the exclusive retailer for juniors’ line Material Girl, designed by Madonna and produced by Iconix Brand Group Inc. Separately, the company, which has 850 doors, also debuted its first set of four Bloomingdale’s bargain-priced outlet stores this summer, and bowed a Bloomingdale’s in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Power Player: Michael Gould, chairman, CEO, Bloomingdale’s

Founder, Chairman, CEO, President; Amazon.com; CEO; Zappos.com
2009 Rank: 7 (Hsieh only)

Amazon’s Kindle might be king, but footwear is clicking for the online behemoth. The firm reported sales gains of 40 percent in the third quarter, due in large part to the addition of Zappos. And Bezos, 46, can thank Hsieh, 35, for keeping the quirky e-tailer in the spotlight. The new author’s book, “Delivering Happiness,” has dominated bestseller lists since its May release. With more fans than ever, Hsieh and his team continue to expand Zappos beyond footwear into apparel, accessories and home. Amazon is also broadening into new territory, launching last month an exclusive Heidi Klum for New Balance activewear line, which will include shoes for spring.

Power Players: Fred Mossler, head, merchandising, Zappos; Maria Renz, VP, shoes & accessories, Amazon & Endless.com

Chairman, CEO; Foot Locker Inc.
2009 Rank: 8

Since taking over the top post from Matt Serra, who retired in January, Hicks, 57, put the athletic retailer on a fresh merchandising path. He’s wooing new types of consumers with more running, toning and skating product, and driving sales by boosting the firm’s branded and private-label athletic apparel. The chief’s five-year plan to hit $6 billion in annual sales — up from $4.9 billion in 2009 — includes broadening Foot Locker’s international store base by 50 percent, mainly in Europe.

Power Players: Richard Johnson, president, CEO, Foot Locker U.S., Footaction, Kids Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker; Ron Halls, president, CEO, Foot Locker International

CEO; President, CEO, branded businesses; The Jones Group
2009 Rank: 13

The Jones Group has been at the center of this year’s biggest deals. Card, 62, and Dickson, 42, instantly upped the company’s design cred in May by scoring a 55 percent stake in Stuart Weitzman. And a few months later, the firm nabbed one of the industry’s hottest young talents, Brian Atwood, to design a contemporary line. Under Dickson, who came aboard in January from Mattel, the firm aims to bring in more new blood as it grows beyond its apparel roots — consider Jones’ recent corporate renaming. The company also continues to nurture Nine West and its other core footwear brands, notable bright spots during the recession.

Power Players: Rick Paterno, group president, footwear; Fred Allard, creative director, Nine West; Ron Offir, president, Jones Direct; Stacy Lastrina, chief marketing officer

President, CEO; Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
2009 Rank: 9

Duke knows how to pinch pennies. The exec, 60, tightened the reins on expenses during the year, leading to a 9.7 percent increase in net income. His company then announced plans to trim fat even more, by lowering capital spending by $1 billion for this and next fiscal year. For 2011, Walmart is rolling out 30 to 40 stores and growing internationally. The retailer has plans to enter South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa next year, as well as to grow in Japan, Argentina and Chile.

Power Players: Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman; Marshal Cohen, president, CEO, Wal-Mart U.S.

Creative & Design Chief; Chairman, CEO; Steven Madden Ltd.
2009 Rank: 16

Steve Madden appeared to be playing banker this year, and his actions are creating some serious buzz. Madden, 53, and Rosenfeld, 34, last month took over a loan for Betsey Johnson, giving them ownership of the designer’s intellectual property. And in August, Madden’s firm invested $5 million in Bakers Footwear Group, bringing its equity interest in the retailer to nearly 20 percent. On its own, the company continued to stand out for its unrelenting successes, whether that was producing the footwear for Madonna’s just-launched Material Girl line or buying Big Buddha handbags and expanding the brand into shoes.

Power Player: Robert Schmertz, brand director

Chairman, CEO; Adidas Group
2009 Rank: 11

Hainer, 56, credited the World Cup with driving sales for Adidas during the first half of 2010. And Reebok’s renaissance, led by its twin technologies of EasyTone and ZigTech, has galvanized the bottom line. However, inflationary pressures loom in 2011, and Reebok just lost its NFL apparel contract to Nike. Look for a focus on the North American business next year.

Power Players: Erich Stamminger, head, global brands; Uli Becker, president, Reebok; Michael Rupp, president, CEO, Rockport

Chairman, President, CEO; Wolverine World Wide Inc.
2009 Rank: 14

Krueger, 56, spent the year restructuring the company’s Outdoor division — containing Merrell, Patagonia Footwear and Chaco — and installing a new executive framework, all to take the Merrell brand to $1 billion, from $450 million, in the next few years. The exec also wants to grow the footwear wholesale business at least twice as fast as the rest of the industry, and double its international retail accounts. So far so good: Wolverine’s Q3 earnings surged 27 percent.

Power Player: James Zwiers, SVP, president, Outdoor Group

Chairman, CEO; President; Skechers USA Inc.
2009 Rank: 10

Skechers clearly benefited from the run-up in toning’s popularity, but some analysts have questioned the longevity of the category. Nevertheless, Robert, 68, and Michael, 47, are sticking with it. The father-son team started the year with a Super Bowl ad featuring NFL legend Joe Montana, followed by the first Shape-ups store, opened in the Santa Monica Place mall in August. Next up: Former NBA greats Karl Malone and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will promote the label. Skechers also recently inked licensing deals to make backpacks and leather accessories, and bowed a 1.8 million-sq.-ft. distribution center last spring.

Power Player: David Weinberg, COO, CFO

Chairman; CEO; New Balance
2009 Rank: 12

With DeMartini, 49, at the helm, New Balance has expanded from the running company that Davis, 67, first created, making inroads in toning and wellness with its True Balance and Rock ’n’ Tone launches. New Balance also launched the high-profile Heidi Klum apparel line with Amazon.com. But the firm has been challenged in the independent channel, with brands such as Brooks and Saucony taking share. To counter that, it created the barefoot running-focused Minimus collection, hitting next year, which has already gotten a warm response, as has high-tech product developed in-house.

Power Player: Anne Davis, vice chairman

Designer; President; Manolo Blahnik USA
2009 Rank: 15

Blahnik, 67, snagged some major time in the spotlight this year with his highly anticipated “World of Manolo” pop-up shop at Liberty of London. Shoes reigned supreme, pairing archived Liberty prints with Blahnik’s sleek style, but the designer also tackled new categories, including umbrellas, cushions, candles and a new book of sketches. Malkemus, 56, and Blahnik are also expanding with wholesale partners across the U.S. and online, bolstering the handbag collection. And they grew the branded door count with shop openings in Russia, Luxembourg, Israel and Lebanon.

Power Player: Kristina Blahnik, deputy managing director, Manolo Blahnik International

President; Vicini SpA
2009 Rank: 17

Zanotti is reaching new heights, and not just with towering stilettos. This year he launched jewelry, sneakers and a bridal collection, all while restyling his brand’s website and uncorking an online store. Zanotti’s Milan showroom also got a makeover. New stores in Dubai and Moscow brought his total to 57, and he’s gearing up for four more shops by the end of 2011. Meanwhile, on the design front, Zanotti, 53, is collaborating with Italian luxury brand Vionnet. No wonder business was up 11 percent in 2010, with revenues to top 71 million euros.

Founder, Chief Creative Officer; CEO; Jimmy Choo
2009 Rank: 20

The duo’s clever brand strategy is paying off. Mellon, 43, and Schulman, 39, continued to ignite buzz with out-of-the-box partnerships, such as the co-branded line with Ugg that hit last month. Another big focus: the rollout of Choo 24:7, an updated line of classics that has resonated with post-recession consumers. The brand is also flexing its retail muscle, with a focus on Europe and fast-growing markets Asia and Latin America. Next year, Choo will mark 15 years, and its private-equity owners, TowerBrook Capital, might celebrate by cashing out. The group said recently it was exploring options for the company.

Founder, Chief Designer, CEO; Camuto Group
2009 Rank: 19

Thanks to major expansion within the Vince Camuto and Jessica Simpson brands, business for Camuto, 74, is up fivefold from 2009. This year, the Vince Camuto label bowed handbags, coats and belts, and has plans for eyewear, jewelry, fragrance and cold-weather accessories in 2011. Twenty branded stores opened internationally, with 60 more coming next year and 150 outlet stores over the next three years. Jessica Simpson debuted intimates, a denim line and her third fragrance, and sportswear is on deck. Shoes are still a major part of the business, though, and the Camuto brand shipped its 2 millionth pair in 2010.

Power Players: Bob Galvin, president; Louise Camuto, president, marketing; Jeff Howald, CFO; Alex DelCielo, COO

Executive Chairman, CEO; President, Chief Merchandising Officer; Saks Inc.
2009 Rank: 21

Saks Inc. recently got a serious vote of confidence. Tod’s Chairman Diego Della Valle last month upped his stake in the company to 19.1 percent, becoming Saks’ biggest shareholder. The 105-door Saks Fifth Avenue chain has been posting a steady stream of comparable-store sales increases without resorting to discounting. Under the charge of Sadove, 59, and Frasch, 62, Saks slashed expenses by $110 million this year, closed underperforming stores and opened five new ones overseas, including its second licensed Saks location in Mexico City.