Caleres Appoints Kathleen Welter as Chief Human Resources Officer

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ST. LOUIS, August 16, 2025 (BUSINESS WATCH GLOBAL) — Footwear company Caleres has appointed Kathleen Welter as Chief Human Resources Officer. She will oversee all human resources functions across the company’s global portfolio of brands and more than 9,000 associates.

Welter will lead areas including recruitment, talent management, training, culture, compensation, benefits, and labor law compliance. She will serve on the company’s leadership team and report to President and CEO Jay Schmidt. Her office will be based in St. Louis.

Doug Koch, the outgoing Chief Human Resources Officer, will remain at Caleres for a 30-day transition period and continue supporting special projects until his retirement at the end of the year.

Welter returns to Caleres after previously serving as Director of Talent Management and Vice President of Talent Strategy and Leadership Continuity. She brings nearly 30 years of HR experience, most recently as Vice President of Human Resources at Woodard & Curran, where she led senior executive recruitment, succession planning, and HR integration following acquisitions.

Earlier in her career, Welter worked as a Senior Consultant at Talent Equation, partnering with clients on organizational design and team development. She holds both an MBA and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri.

For more information, visit www.caleres.com.

Source: Caleres