Kizik is adding to its executive team.
The hands-free footwear brand said on Wednesday that it hired Nike veteran Andreas Harlow as its new senior vice president of design.
Harlow, who has spent over 20 years at Nike, most recently served as the company’s vice president and global footwear creative director for Jordan Brand, fueling the brand’s growth for the last three years. Harlow led other Nike design teams during his tenure at the Swoosh, holding positions like VP and footwear creative director of Nike running and core performance, as well as VP and creative director of performance footwear.
“I’m thrilled to join Kizik at a time when the brand is reshaping what’s possible in footwear,” Harlow told FN. “Kizik’s focus on design-driven functionality is inspiring. I look forward to pushing the boundaries of inclusive design that fuses ease, style and performance. This is an incredible opportunity to create innovative footwear that truly enriches people’s lives.”
In his new role, the company said Harlow joins the Kizik team “with a mandate to push the boundaries of footwear design and fuel the brand’s growth.”
Monte Deere, chief executive officer of Kizik, added that bringing on Harlow “signals a new era of innovation and design sophistication” for the brand.
“His unparalleled experience and creative vision are perfectly aligned with our mission to reimagine the footwear experience for everyone,” Deere said. “Andreas will play a critical role as we elevate our product offerings and expand into new markets, reinforcing Kizik’s position as the hands-free footwear leader.”
The arrival of Harlow comes just months after the brand hired Elizabeth Drori as its new chief marketing officer. Drori joined Kizik in July from Sperry, where she served as global chief marketing officer and general manager of the Sperry e-commerce business since 2020.
These new hires come in the midst of the brand’s efforts to double down on its retail strategy. Over the last several months, Kizik has opened new stores across the U.S.
In an exclusive interview with FN in May, Deere said he plans to have a total of six stores by the end of 2024 with new openings on Newbury Street in Boston, New Jersey and Denver slated for later this year. “In 2025, we have several more in the pipeline,” the CEO said. “We’re looking hard at Washington, D.C., Nashville, Seattle and Portland for new openings next year.”
All told, Deere said he plans to have a total of 15 stores by the end of next year.
