Former Deckers Brands President & CEO and HOKA growth leader joins STOKE as the brand tackles one of footwear’s biggest fit problems.
, /PRNewswire/ — STOKE Shoes, the footwear brand focused on delivering exceptional comfort and fit for everyday wear, today announced that Dave Powers, former President and CEO of Deckers Brands, has joined the company as an advisor and investor.
Powers brings more than four decades of experience building and scaling global footwear and retail businesses, including nearly 13 years at Deckers Brands, where he served as President and CEO from 2016 to 2024. During his tenure, Powers helped lead Deckers through a period of significant growth, including the transformation of HOKA from a niche running brand into a billion-dollar-plus global business. Deckers reported record fiscal 2024 revenue of $4.29 billion under his leadership.
Now, Powers is bringing that experience to Stoke Shoes, a brand addressing a significant but often overlooked problem in footwear: fit.
According to the 2026 Volumental Foot Scan, approximately 76% of men in the U.S. have wide feet, highlighting a significant disconnect between the shape of consumers’ feet and the footwear they typically wear. For Stoke, that gap represents an opportunity to rethink how men’s footwear is designed around the actual shape of the foot.
“Dave is one of those rare people who has an incredible track record, but is also just a genuinely good dude,” said Rick Blackshaw, Co-Founder of Stoke Shoes. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have him as an advisor and investor. He knows footwear, he knows how to build brands, and he knows what it takes to scale a business. Even better, there’s a personal connection here as CMO Ian Stewart and I first crossed paths with Dave during our time at Converse, so bringing him into STOKE feels like a natural continuation of a relationship that started years ago.”
During his time at Deckers, Powers helped create more than $10 billion in shareholder value, while overseeing a period of substantial brand, revenue, and market-capitalization growth. Deckers’ own announcement of Powers’ retirement credited him with helping build the company into an industry leader and “dramatically increasing shareholder value” during his tenure.
Prior to Deckers, Powers spent four years at Converse, a Nike brand, as Vice President of Global Direct-to-Consumer and Licensed Retail, where he led international DTC expansion and served as part of the Nike retail leadership team. He previously held leadership roles at Timberland and spent a decade at Gap Inc.
“I’ve spent my career around footwear and STOKE immediately stood out to me because the team is solving a real consumer problem,” said Dave Powers. “The opportunity to build a brand around comfort, fit and how people actually live is compelling. I know what it takes to build great footwear brands, and I believe Stoke has the product, the team and the opportunity to do something meaningful in the market. I’m excited to be part of the journey.”
As an advisor and investor, Powers will work closely with Stoke’s leadership team on brand strategy, product development, retail expansion, distribution and long-term growth.
“Stoke isn’t trying to make another shoe and put a logo on it,” added Blackshaw. “We’re focused on making footwear that actually works for the way people live, and that starts with understanding the foot. Having someone with Dave’s experience, perspective and network in our corner gives us an incredible resource as we build the company.”
Based in Santa Barbara, Powers holds a B.A. in Marketing from Northeastern University.
About STOKE Shoes
STOKE Shoes is a performance-lifestyle brand engineered for the 97 million all-American men with wide feet overlooked by the athletic footwear industry. Founded by Rick Blackshaw in 2025, Stoke builds shoes that match how real men live; with more room, more cushioning, and more honesty. The company is headquartered in New Hampshire with global manufacturing partners. For more information, visit [www.stokeshoes.com] and follow Stoke Shoes on social media.
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