Bio
Ken C. Hicks
Ken C. Hicks was elected President and Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker Inc. effective
August, 2009. He was subsequently appointed as the company's Chairman effective January
2010.
Prior to joining Foot Locker, Mr. Hicks served as President and Chief Merchandising Officer of J.C.
Penney Company Inc. since 2005 and was a member of its board of directors since 2008. From
2002 to 2005, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Penney's stores and merchandise
operations.
Before joining J.C. Penney, Mr. Hicks was President of Payless ShoeSource from 1999 to 2002,
where he was responsible for all elements of merchandising, marketing, product distribution, and
direct product development and sourcing for 4,900 stores in seven countries. Prior to joining
Payless ShoeSource, he was Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of all
merchandising and programming for the Home Shopping Network.
From 1987 to 1998, Mr. Hicks held senior management and merchandising positions for May
Department Stores, including Senior Vice President of strategic planning and General
Merchandise Manager for several divisions. From 1982 to 1987, he was a Senior Engagement
Manager for McKinsey & Company.
Mr. Hicks graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the U.
S. Army, attaining the rank of captain. After leaving the Army, he earned an M.B.A. with highest
honors from Harvard University. He serves on the board of Avery Dennison Corporation.
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Encyclopædia Britannica Article
- shoe
Outer covering for the foot, usually of leather, with a stiff or thick sole and heel, and generally reaching no higher than the ankle (unlike a boot). Early examples from Mesopotamia were moccasinlike wraparounds of leather; not until the Hellenistic Age did shoes become luxurious. The Romans developed shoes fitted for the left and right feet, and differentiated according to sex and rank. In the 14th15th century, shoes became extremely long and pointed, the points attaining a length of 18 in. (45 cm) or more. In the 16th century, the toes became extremely broad, like a duck's bill. In the 17th century, shoes had moderately high heels and were often decorated with large rosettes of lace and ribbons, which gave way to gold or silver buckles in the 18th century. The first shoe factory opened in 1760, in Massachusetts, but not until the development of modern machinery in the 19th century were shoes made quickly and inexpensively.
- shoe on britannica.com
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