Dick's Sporting Goods appoints new private brands chief

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Nov 15, 2022

​​Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it has appointed Chad Kessler as EVP of vertical brands, its private label business.

The Pittsburgh-based sporting retailer said Kessler will lead strategy, management and execution for its vertical brands, including soft lines Calia, DSG and Alpine, as well as the company’s hardline businesses.

Kessler joins Dick's Sporting Goods from youth apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters, where he was president of American Eagle premium brand, and oversaw the development and launch of AE77, a sustainable denim brand.

He was also the driver behind the acquisition of Todd Snyder, the designer menswear company that American Eagle purchased for $11 million in 2015.

Prior to May 2021, he was global brand president of American Eagle for six years.

He joined American Eagle after working as chief merchandising officer of Urban Outfitters, North America. He was also senior vice president of corporate merchandising at Coach and spent 16 years at Abercrombie & Fitch.

The news comes as Dick's expands its resale partnership with SidelineSwap for the rollout of second-hand pop-ups across its store network in the U.S. that allows customers to trade in and buy used sporting goods.