Longtime Genesco Employees Reflect on the Company’s Enduring Legacy as It Marks 100 Years
Stephen Garner
Senior Editor
An inclusive and welcoming company culture has been a core to tenant to Genesco’s success. And as the footwear company celebrates 100 years, FN reached out to some longtime employees to hear about their favorite moments at the company. Here’s what they had to say:
Parag Desai, SVP and Chief Strategy and Digital Officer at Genesco
“The last two years leading up to our 100th anniversary have been some of the most exciting for Genesco’s technology team as we embarked on a reinvention of our global capabilities. We modernized key parts of our tech portfolio, launched important new capabilities for our consumers and team members, transformed and restructured our global team, and established new disciplines in areas such as loyalty, data analytics, market/consumer insights, and project management/governance. All this great work fuels our ongoing efforts putting the consumer at the center of everything we do.”
Deanna Grubbs, VP of Design and Development for Apparel and Accessories at Johnston & Murphy
“I joined Genesco 25 years ago as part of the marketing team for the Johnston & Murphy division. One of my first projects for the brand was planning marketing and events for our 150th anniversary. And now, I’m working on plans for our brand’s 175th anniversary next year. It’s such a privilege and an honor to work for a company with such a long history and incredible legacy in the industry.”
Watch on FN
Hal Pennington, Retired Chairman, President, and CEO of Genesco
“Congratulations to Genesco on this 100th Anniversary year. This long history is a tribute to the hard work of so many people at Genesco who take such pride in their work while being focused on serving their customers. Here’s to continued success.”
Claire McCall, Director of Corporate Relations at Genesco
“For 100 years, Genesco has been a leader in the footwear industry and the Middle Tennessee community. Giving back has always been part of our DNA leading with strategic leadership, financial resources, and an incredible team of volunteers. Our signature community outreach program ‘Cold Feet, Warm Shoes’ has actively fit more than 100,000 needy children with warm, proper fitting footwear in communities where we work and live. It is a testament not only to our culture but to the fantastic employees who are not only great in their professions but volunteer to make a difference in the lives of others. It’s remarkable.”
James Lytle, VP and GMM Athletics at Journeys
“For 100 years, Genesco has continually balanced evolving to meet the consumers expectations with ‘best in class service’ and working to ensure that every employee knows their contributions are important and valued. These efforts create an environment that fosters new ideas and passion for purpose. We are entering our second century with a continued commitment to present our customers with premium product and exceptional service.”
