---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001319947-23-000002"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "DBI"
cik: "0001319947"
company_name: "Designer Brands Inc."
filed_at: "2023-01-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T19:23:33.685156+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Designer Brands CEO transition: Rawlins to step down April 1, Howe appointed

## Summary
- CEO Roger Rawlins steps down effective April 1, 2023; will serve as strategic advisor for 12 months.
- Doug Howe, current President of DSW, appointed CEO and Class II director effective same date.
- Rawlins receives $1.95M cash payments over 18 months, equity vesting, and COBRA reimbursement.
- Howe's base salary raised to $1.2M, target bonus 150% of salary, annual equity target $4.5M (50% PSUs, 50% RSUs).
- Fiscal 2022 guidance reiterated: diluted EPS $1.75-$1.80, comparable sales growth mid-single digits.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001319947-23-000002
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: DBI
- cik: 0001319947
- company_name: Designer Brands Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-01-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000002/0001319947-23-000002-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000002/dbi-20230104.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-23-000002
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-23-000002.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001319947-23-000002.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Doug Howe was appointed as Class II Director at Designer Brands Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Class II Director
  source text: Doug Howe, who currently serves as the Company’s Executive Vice President and President of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, will assume the CEO role and join the Board as a Class II director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000002/0001319947-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Doug Howe was appointed as Chief Executive Officer at Designer Brands Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: Doug Howe, who currently serves as the Company’s Executive Vice President and President of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, will assume the CEO role and join the Board as a Class II director.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000002/0001319947-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Roger Rawlins departed as Chief Executive Officer at Designer Brands Inc..
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Company’s current CEO, Roger Rawlins, will step down from his role as CEO and as a member of the Board effective April 1, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000002/0001319947-23-000002-index.htm
- Executive change
  Roger Rawlins departed as Director at Designer Brands Inc..
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: Director
  source text: the Company’s current CEO, Roger Rawlins, will step down from his role as CEO and as a member of the Board effective April 1, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1319947/000131994723000002/0001319947-23-000002-index.htm

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