RG Barry Brands Names Cole Haan and Deckers Alum Justine Suh President of Dearfoams
RG Barry Brands has named Justine Suh president of its Dearfoams brand.
Suh will be “responsible for shaping and driving the strategic direction of the Dearfoams brand, overseeing product merchandising, design, strategy and planning, sales, and marketing.” She will also manage the brand’s licensing operations, the company said.
RG Barry noted in a statement that Suh will be “pivotal in advancing Dearfoams’ efforts to elevate its product offerings, drive revenue through product innovation, and expand into premium footwear categories.” She will report to Robert Mullaney, chief executive officer of RG Barry Brands.
Suh joins Dearfoams from Carter’s, where she managed a multi-billion-dollar business as general manager of North American retail. Prior to Carter’s, Suh served as chief merchandising officer at Cole Haan, where she spearheaded the brand’s growth through category diversification and market expansion.
Suh also held the role of vice president and global general merchandise manager of omni channel at Deckers Brands, and held key positions at Tory Burch, Coach, Prada and Ralph Lauren.
“Justine is uniquely qualified to lead Dearfoams into its next chapter,” Mullaney said in a statement. “Her expertise in scaling globally recognized brands, coupled with her focus on the consumer and product innovation, will be instrumental as we elevate and grow the Dearfoams brand and explore new opportunities in the marketplace.”
“I’m excited to collaborate with this talented team to build on that foundation, drive expansion, and elevate our presence within the evolving landscape of lifestyle brands,” Suh added. “Together, we will continue to deliver exceptional products that not only delight our customers but also redefine the possibilities within the Dearfoams lifestyle.”
This news comes after RG Barry found a new majority owner last year. In June, the company revealed it has been acquired by the Marubeni Growth Capital U.S. (MGCU) a subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Marubeni Corporation.
RG Barry was founded in 1947. A year later, the company established its name with Dearfoams, known for its foam-cushioned slippers. Since joining the company in 2017, Mullaney has orchestrated several changes within the organization, including opening an East Coast hub in fall 2021. He also helped the company launch an “Earth-first” sustainable platform in the fall and a new data-centric, artificial intelligence-powered methodology to focus on the consumer. In 2023, RG Barry launched its environmentally friendly shoe brand Planet A.