---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001319947-22-000042"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "DBI"
cik: "0001319947"
company_name: "Designer Brands Inc."
filed_at: "2022-11-23T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-21T13:20:01.595184+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Designer Brands expands board with Rich Paul and Tami Fersko as independent directors

## Summary
- Rich Paul, CEO and founder of KLUTCH Sports Group, appointed as Class II director effective Nov 17, 2022.
- Tami Fersko, Chief Operations and Supply Chain Officer at Centric Brands, appointed as Class I director and to Audit & Nominating Committees.
- Board expands to 11 members, eight of whom are independent.
- New directors receive pro-rata RSU grant of $81,000 and standard indemnification agreement.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001319947-22-000042
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: DBI
- cik: 0001319947
- company_name: Designer Brands Inc.
- filed_at: 2022-11-23T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994722000042/0001319947-22-000042-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994722000042/dbi-20221117.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-22-000042
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-22-000042.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-22-000042.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Tami Fersko was appointed as Director at Designer Brands Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: Tami Fersko as a Class I director
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994722000042/0001319947-22-000042-index.htm
- Executive change
  Rich Paul was appointed as Director at Designer Brands Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Director
  source text: the Board appointed Rich Paul as a Class II director
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994722000042/0001319947-22-000042-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.