Caleres Names Kathleen Welter as New Chief Human Resources Officer

Caleres has appointed Kathleen Welter as its new Chief Human Resources Officer, succeeding Doug Koch. Welter previously worked at Caleres for 10 years and will oversee HR for the company's portfolio of brands, including Famous Footwear and Stuart Weitzman. She will report to CEO Jay Schmidt and be based in St. Louis. Additionally, Caleres has entered a partnership with Cash App Afterpay, allowing customers to buy products in four payments or with monthly payments.

Caleres, a leading footwear company, has appointed Kathleen Welter as its new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), succeeding Doug Koch. Welter, who has been with the company for 10 years, will oversee HR for Caleres' portfolio of brands, including Famous Footwear and Stuart Weitzman. She will report to CEO Jay Schmidt and be based in St. Louis [1].

In addition to the CHRO appointment, Caleres has entered a significant partnership with Cash App Afterpay. This collaboration allows customers to buy products in four installments or with monthly payments, offering greater flexibility in shopping for footwear and accessories. The partnership is particularly timely as consumers prepare to refresh their footwear collections for fall [2].

The partnership will enable U.S. shoppers to use Afterpay's Pay in 4 and Pay Monthly options to purchase from beloved brands including Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, Naturalizer, Vionic, Bzees, Circus NY, Dr. Scholls, Franco Sarto, Lifestride, Ryka, and ShoeBank. The collaboration also brings Afterpay's in-store payment solution to select retail locations, including Famous Footwear, Sam Edelman, Allen Edmonds, and Naturalizer stores across the United States [2].

The addition of Caleres' brands to Afterpay's platform further demonstrates the platform's growth in the footwear and accessories category, offering shoppers more flexible ways to pay for their favorite styles. Afterpay's Pay in 4 service allows customers to pay in four interest-free installments due generally every two weeks, while Pay Monthly offers plans from 3 to 24 months depending upon the order amount. Canadian customers can also enjoy the convenience of Afterpay's Pay in 4 service when shopping online at Allen Edmonds, Famous Footwear, Naturalizer, and Sam Edelman [2].

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/XYZ/cash-app-afterpay-and-caleres-step-into-fall-with-expanded-38x554uma9lc.html
[2] https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/cash-app-afterpay-and-caleres-step-fall-expanded-partnership-2025-08-19