Mario Gallione, who has most recently served as Chief Merchandising Officer of the Journeys Group, is a 38-year employee of Genesco and has been associated with Journeys since 1994.  In his new role, he assumes responsibility for all aspects of the Journeys and Journeys Kidz retail operations, including stores in the US and Canada as well as journeys.com and journeys.ca.

Gallione will report to James C. Estepa, who will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Journeys Group.  In that role, Estepa will oversee the Journeys, Schuh, and Little Burgundy retail concepts, focusing on the coordination of Genesco's teen and young adult retail footwear brands across all the markets where they operate.  Estepa also remains a senior Vice President of Genesco.  Gallione's appointment is intended as the first step in a succession plan to prepare for Estepa's eventual retirement.

Robert J. Dennis, Genesco's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, added: "Mario Gallione is a seasoned leader, well respected within The Journeys Group, throughout Genesco, and across the footwear retail industry, and I look for Journeys to continue to do great things under his leadership.  We are also fortunate to benefit from Jim Estepa's continuing involvement in all our teen and young adult footwear businesses in the role of chief executive officer of The Journeys Group.  Jim was present at the founding of the Journeys retail chain and has been instrumental in establishing and solidifying its leading role in the US footwear market as well as in the launch and growth of the Journeys Kidz concept and the successful acquisition and integration of the Schuh and Little Burgundy concepts in the UK and Canada. As he has successfully guided the Journeys team through a major fashion shift over the past year, I have gained a greater appreciation for his extraordinary gifts as a retailer and a business leader. Thanks to Jim's leadership, Mario takes the helm of a Journeys business well positioned for continuing success."