Dive Brief:
- Almost two years after late Zappos founder Tony Hsieh stepped down as CEO, and a few months after its most recent CEO resigned, Zappos has appointed Scott Schaefer to the role effective immediately, the e-commerce retailer announced on Wednesday.
- Schaefer has spent nearly 14 years at Zappos in various roles spanning finance, operations and strategy. Before becoming acting CEO in December 2021, Schaefer was the company’s vice president of finance.
- Prior to joining Zappos in 2008, Schaefer held finance-related jobs at Davenport Wealth Management and Ernst & Young, according to the announcement.
Dive Insight:
This is Zappos’ third CEO since 2020. Hsieh stepped down from the CEO role in August 2020 after 21 years leading the business and was replaced by Kedar Deshpande, who resigned in November last year.
“I am thrilled and honored to continue my journey at Zappos as chief executive officer,” Schaefer said in a statement. “My genuine passion for and deep understanding of our business allows me to get a quick start in creating an unmatched experience for our brand partners, surprising and delighting our customers, continuing our long history of leading compassionately and, as a financier at heart, strengthening our business’s financial position.”
Schaefer has spent nearly 14 years at Zappos in various roles spanning finance, operations and strategy.
Courtesy of Zappos
The Amazon-owned company operates mostly separately from its parent and has worked to expand its reach in recent years. In 2020, Zappos Adaptive debuted a test program designed to cater to customers who need just a single shoe or shoes in different sizes. The effort included products from brands like Nike, Converse and New Balance. Per a 2019 Coresight Research report, the adaptive apparel market could reach $54.8 billion in the U.S. and $349.9 billion worldwide by 2023.
Zappos in 2021 partnered with Abercrombie & Fitch to sell the teen brand’s apparel on its site, a deal that included offering shoppers suggested pairings of denim and shoes. The two companies also collaborated on a shoe collection that featured eight styles ranging from a strappy heel to a stovepipe boot for sizes six to 15.
