Laura Denk, most recently chief merchandising officer for Michaels Stores, Inc., has been named president of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) and Executive Vice President of Designer Brands. Her appointment is effective July 24.

In reporting to Designer Brands CEO Doug Howe, Denk will be responsible for leading DSW's nearly 500 U.S. store locations and e-commerce channel, and will have responsibility for elevating the company’s owned and top national brands besides leading day-to-day operations.

Denk’s prior retail experience, in addition to Michaels Stores, also includes stints with both Claire’s Stores and Macy’s, Inc. Her background is rooted in merchandising and building strong vendor partnerships, along with augmenting customer experiences and elevating private brands.

"I am thrilled to be joining DSW at such an exciting time in DSW's journey to becoming a brand builder, while leveraging its strong footprint of stores and omni-channel platform," said Denk. "The opportunity to partner with the DSW team to transform and reimagine the customer experience, especially by shining a light on Designer Brands' unique Owned Brands within DSW will help us build value for our customers and our shareholders.  I am continually impressed by the breadth of assortment and must-have brands, coupled with a convenient and easy shopping experience, and I look forward to jumping right into the business."