With North America generating more than a third of Group sales, JD Sports Fashion is tightening leadership in its most important market while creating a single global marketing function to align its expanding fascia portfolio.
JD Sports Fashion plc has appointed John Mersho President and Chief Executive Officer of its JD business in North America and promoted Mike Grimes to the newly created role of Group Chief Marketing Officer, effective immediately. The appointments underline the retailer’s focus on North America, its largest market, which generated 38 percent of Group sales in fiscal 2026.
Mersho steps up from chief commercial officer for JD North America, a post he has held since 2025. He succeeds John Hall, who is retiring after four decades in retail, including his tenure as JD North America’s chief executive officer since 2023.
Mersho, a member of the family that founded Shoe Palace in 1993, takes charge of a business spanning the JD, Hibbett, DTLR and Finish Line banners, with the retailer continuing to expand the JD fascia and convert legacy Finish Line stores across the region. Grimes moves up from chief marketing officer of the North American business to the newly created Group-wide post, centralizing brand direction across JD’s international fascias. He has spent close to two decades across JD and Finish Line in North America.
The appointments come as JD converts standalone Finish Line stores to the JD banner and expands a North American portfolio that already spans Hibbett, DTLR and a Finish Line concession inside Macy’s. The Group operates more than 2,500 stores across the region, with each fascia targeting a different customer segment.
JD will host analysts and investors on a field trip to Florida from Oct. 13 to 15 to review its North American progress, with regional fascia leaders including Mersho expected to attend.
