Specialty footwear and lifestyle chain The Athlete’s Foot (TAF) has announced the expansion of its marketing team and the promotion of two key executives: Darius Billings has been promoted to VP of marketing, community engagement and StAART and Cassidy Dansberry has been promoted to marketing manager, effective immediately.
Billings worked at Nike and AND1 Basketball before joining TAF 15 years ago. He was instrumental in the development and formation of the Impact Council, which was created to strengthen local communities through various initiatives, enrichment and outreach programs. The Council’s mission is to improve neighborhoods by promoting programs such as recreational sports leagues, playgrounds, college scholarships, clothing and food drives that directly impact underserved communities. He also leads the StAART program (The Strategic African American Retail Track), launched in 2020 in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which addresses economic disparities within the black community, particularly in the footwear industry. Billings will continue to report to Matthew Lafone, president and GM of Americas, and will lead all U.S. brand and community engagement efforts along with the StAART program.
Dansberry, who will continue to report to Billings, was a partner success manager and consultant for digital marketing firm Sapper Consulting prior to joining TAF.
TAF has also added two new positions to its marketing team, including a social media coordinator and a marketing coordinator.
The Athlete’s Foot sneaker and streetwear chain has 550 stores and e-commerce stores in more than 30 countries. The company is headquartered in Stans, Switzerland, and Atlanta, Georgia, in the U.S.
