A 15-year Big Foot veteran, Johnson has served as EVP/Group President of Retail Stores since July, 2011. In his new role as COO, which is effective immediately, he will retain responsibility for all of FL’s store banners worldwide.

The Japanese company reported a 14% increase in consolidated net income to ¥12,617 million ($157.8 mm) from ¥11,046 million for the 12 months ended Mar. 31, largely due to the sale of a Tokyo building and adjacent land.

Skechers agrees to a one-time settlement of $45 million with the Federal Trade Commission over advertising for its Shape-Up toning shoes and other styles that suggested consumers could lose weight plus tone their buttocks, legs and abs by wearing the footwear.

Mother Nature was no friend of the 2011-2012 winter sports season in the U.S. Total retail dollar sales, as collected from point-of-sale systems of more than 1,200 snowsports retailers by Leisure Trends Group, declined 3.8% to $3.4 billion for the Aug. to Mar. 31 period.

The Cat has established a 100%-owned subsidiary in Israel so that it may exercise full control of its business there starting on Jan. 1, 2013.

Consolidated annual revenues at the Japanese sporting goods company rose 2% to ¥38,988 million ($487.5 mm) from ¥38,245 million.