Tracksmith has named Jon Tappan Chief Product and Merchandising Officer, bringing the longtime Converse executive to the independent running brand as it continues to expand and refine its product offering, with a particular focus on footwear.
Tappan joins Tracksmith following a 16 year career at Converse spanning product, merchandising, ecommerce and retail. Most recently, he held senior leadership roles overseeing the brand’s global product engines for footwear, apparel & accessories with responsibility for the innovation, design, product, development, regional creation and merchandising organizations.
During his tenure, Tappan helped develop new categories and partnerships for Converse while working across the product journey, from assortment and merchandising to retail and the consumer experience. That breadth of expertise will be particularly relevant as Tracksmith enters its next stage of product category growth.
“Jon understands the discipline required to build enduring product franchises without losing what makes a brand distinctive,” said Jared Carver, CEO of Tracksmith. “He has spent his career thinking about product at scale, how you create clarity across an assortment, build categories over time and translate a brand’s point of view into a compelling retail experience. That experience will be invaluable as we continue to evolve Tracksmith.”
A key priority for Tappan will be Tracksmith’s growing footwear business. As the brand continues its expansion beyond apparel into performance running shoes, Tappan will work alongside its design and development teams to refine the broader product architecture, strengthen the relationship between footwear and apparel, and identify opportunities to build meaningful franchises across categories.
“Tracksmith has built a remarkably clear point of view around running and the role that great product can play in the experience of the sport,” Tappan said. “There is an enormous opportunity to build on that foundation — refining the assortment, developing footwear into a meaningful part of the business and creating retail environments that express the brand in a way that feels distinctly Tracksmith. I’m excited to help shape what comes next.”
Tappan will also oversee Tracksmith’s retail strategy, helping evolve its physical spaces as both commercial environments and gathering places for local running communities. He is based in Boston.
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About Tracksmith
Founded in Boston in 2014, Tracksmith is an independent running brand built on a deep love for the sport. The brand honors the Amateur Spirit upon which running was founded upon and champions the Running Class—the non-professional yet competitive runners dedicated to the pursuit of personal excellence. Tracksmith crafts products, tells stories and creates experiences that enrich the running lifestyle—for training, racing and rest days. In everything it does, Tracksmith aims to celebrate, support and add to running’s distinct culture.
