Leicester footwear giant names new chairman

Leicester-based footwear retailer Shoe Zone has unveiled its new chairman.

Charles Smith, who will take up the role on a permanent basis, is an existing board member and a major shareholder in Shoe Zone, owning 22.2 per cent of the company.

He was appointed interim chairman in August 2019, having previously worked as chief operating officer since the firm’s IPO in 2014.

Educated at De Montfort and Warwick Universities, Smith worked as a Business Studies teacher prior to his arrival at Shoe Zone in 1998. He quickly progressed through the ranks, becoming store manager and area manager before joining the Board in 2001.

Following Smith’s appointment, the Shoe Zone Board now consists of three executive and three non-executive directors. The non-executive directors all serve on both the company’s audit and remuneration committees.