Debbie Ferrée, interim president of Designer Brands’ Camuto Group business since Aug. 2020, has been formally named president of the private label unit that is expected to ramp up production in the second half of 2021. Ferrée is being charged with advancing Camuto’s integration into the Designer Brands Inc. (DBI) organization and growing its brands.

DBI, which bought Camuto Group for $375 million in Oct. 2018, slashed the unit’s footwear production in the final three months of 2020 by 73 percent. But now the tide appears to be lifting for the business. In its Q1, Designer Brands reported that 15 of DSW’s Top 25-selling brands were designed and sourced vertically by it. And this fall, Camuto will re-launch several labels. Among them: JLO, Mix No. 6 and Kelly and Katie.

Elsewhere, DBI has promoted William “Bill” Jordan, its chief growth officer since Feb. 2020, to president. He will continue to lead the company’s growth effort in his new role as he assumes responsibility for all sourcing and supply chain business functions.