Levi Strauss & Co. has hired Skechers finance chief John Vandemore as executive vice president and CFO, effective Nov. 1, turning to an executive who helped nearly triple a footwear giant's revenue to more than $9 billion.

Vandemore arrives from Skechers USA Inc., where he spent nine years as CFO. During his tenure, Skechers grew into the world's third-largest footwear brand, with operations in over 180 countries and more than 5,000 stores. He brings more than 25 years of finance experience, including prior roles as executive vice president and CFO of global brands and commercial sales at Mattel Inc., plus stints at International Game Technology and The Walt Disney Co.

He takes over from Harmit Singh, who announced his retirement in April from the expanded role of executive vice president and chief financial and growth officer. Singh's tenure largely overlapped with Chip Bergh's run as CEO, when the two reshaped Levi's from a wholesale-driven men's bottoms supplier into a lifestyle retail brand.

Current CEO Michelle Gass, who joined Levi's from Kohl's Corp., is now charged with completing that transformation by building out retail, women's and tops. The CFO change hands her a new partner for that effort.

"We are thrilled to welcome John at a pivotal moment for our company," Gass said. "We are building a more direct-to-consumer business, unlocking the full potential of the Levi's brand and transforming LS&Co. into the world's leading denim lifestyle retailer. John's deep financial, operational and consumer experience, combined with his proven ability to help global brands scale and grow profitably, makes him the ideal partner to help us realize our ambition of becoming a $10 billion company."

The scale of that ambition is significant. Levi's posted revenues of $6.3 billion last year and sells through 3,300 stores and shops-in-shop across 120 countries. Reaching $10 billion implies roughly 59 percent top-line growth from that base — a target that will test the direct-to-consumer pivot Gass has prioritized since taking the top job.

For sourcing and supply-chain teams, the appointment signals continuity in the strategic direction but a new set of financial eyes on the model. Vandemore's record at Skechers — scaling a global brand across 180-plus countries while maintaining profitable growth — maps directly onto the challenges Levi's faces as it shifts channel mix away from wholesale toward retail and DTC.

Vandemore framed the move in similarly expansive terms. "LS&Co. is an iconic company with an unmatched heritage, a globally renowned brand and a clear strategy that is delivering strong momentum and results," he said. "I have long admired the Levi's brand and am excited to join Michelle and the team and contribute to strengthening consumer connections, accelerating profitable growth and creating long-term value for all stakeholders."

The transition formally completes a leadership handover that began with Singh's April retirement announcement. Vandemore starts Nov. 1, and his first quarters in the seat will show whether the company's $10 billion ambition translates into concrete capital allocation, channel investment and margin targets.