Pittsburgh — DICK’S Sporting Goods has appointed Matthew Barnes as president of Foot Locker International, effective Dec. 3, 2025. Barnes will lead the Foot Locker business’ international operations with a focus on driving strategic growth, accelerating business momentum and executing targeted turnaround strategies.
In his position at Foot Locker, now part of DICK’S Sporting Goods following its acquisition in September 2025, Barnes will oversee the Foot Locker stores, e-commerce and digital businesses across Europe, Asia and Australia and its licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Barnes will report to Ed Stack, DICK’S executive chairman, who leads the Foot Locker business. He joins a Foot Locker management team of experienced senior leaders, including longtime former Nike executive Ann Freeman, who leads Foot Locker North America.
“We are thrilled to welcome Matthew Barnes to our outstanding Foot Locker management team as we bring the business back to where it belongs at the top of our industry and position it for its next phase of global growth,” says Stack. “Matthew’s proven tenure working with prominent global brands to transform and grow their businesses makes him the ideal leader to elevate Foot Locker’s international platform.”
Barnes, a highly accomplished global retail executive, brings nearly three decades of leadership experience from across the United Kingdom, Europe, the U.S., China and Australia to his new role at Foot Locker. He began his career at Aldi. Barnes also held the UK CEO role at Tesco.
“Matthew is a highly accomplished global retail executive and has longstanding familiarity with the international markets where Foot Locker operates,” says Lauren Hobart, president and CEO of DICK’S. “His expertise will be invaluable in strengthening our ability to deliver growth and generate value for our customers, brand partners, team members and shareholders, and we are delighted to have him on board.”
Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, DICK’S is a leading omnichannel retailer and an iconic brand in sport and culture. Its banners include DICK’S Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, Public Lands and Going Going Gone! in addition to the experiential retail concepts DICK’S House of Sport and Golf Galaxy Performance Center. As owner and operator of the Foot Locker business, including the Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and atmos banners, DICK’S serves the global sneaker community in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia, plus a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. DICK’S also owns and operates GameChanger, a youth sports mobile platform for live streaming, scheduling, communications and scorekeeping.
SOURCE: DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc.