Foot Locker hires new international chief to lead next phase of growth

US sportswear retailer Foot Locker, which was acquired by DICK’S Sporting Goods in September 2025, has appointed Matthew Barnes as President of Foot Locker International, effective from 3 December.

He will report directly to Ed Stack, Executive Chairman of DICK’S, who oversees Foot Locker’s global operations.

Barnes will lead Foot Locker’s brick-and-mortar and online business in Europe, Asia and Australia, and Foot Locker’s licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Foot Locker has 50 stores in the UK, and over 2,400 stores globally, and Barnes will focus on driving strategic growth, accelerating business momentum and executing targeted turnaround strategies.

Barnes brings nearly three decades of leadership experience from across the UK, Europe, the US, China and Australia to his new role at Foot Locker.

He has a track record of guiding consumer facing companies through periods of growth and transformation, including at Aldi, where he began his career as an Area Manager and held numerous leadership roles including Group CEO & Member of the International (Executive) Board of Aldi Süd. Barnes also held the UK Chief Executive Officer role at Tesco.

Ed Stack said: “We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Barnes to our outstanding Foot Locker management team as we bring the business back to where it belongs at the top of our industry and position it for its next phase of global growth.

“Matthew’s proven tenure working with prominent global brands to transform and grow their businesses makes him the ideal leader to elevate Foot Locker’s international platform.”

Barnes commented: “I am honoured to join Foot Locker, a brand with deep recognition across the globe, at such a pivotal and exciting time for the sports retail industry.

“I have a personal passion for sports, and I look forward to working alongside this exceptional leadership team, as well as the talented Foot Locker Stripers and team members to bring innovative experiences and exciting new products to consumers worldwide.”

Lauren Hobart, President and CEO of DICK’S, added: “Matthew is a highly accomplished global retail executive and has longstanding familiarity with the international markets where Foot Locker operates.
“His expertise will be invaluable in strengthening our ability to deliver growth and generate value for our customers, brand partners, team members and shareholders, and we are delighted to have him on board.”

In July, Foot Locker opened its largest UK flagship store to date at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, introducing its new ‘Re-imagined’ store concept with a “next level retail experience” for sneakerheads.

Spanning 13,821 sq ft, the store features three new permanent areas to create an immersive sneaker experience, including a Sneaker Hub which offers a range of customisation and cleaning services “for shoppers to level up their sneaker game”.

There is also a dedicated tunnel area showcasing Foot Locker exclusives and drops, as well as a “state of the art” try-on area.