The Stride Rite Corporation has announced the promotions of Michael Metcalfe to general manager of Saucony, and Shawn Neville to group president, Keds and Saucony, effective immediately.

Mr Metcalfe has been involved in the athletic footwear industry for over two decades, with his most recent role as senior vice president of Sales for Saucony since the technical running brand's acquisition by Stride Rite in September 2005. He joined Stride Rite as senior vice president of Sales for Keds in 2004. Previously, he spent 13 years with Reebok International, in various sales and product marketing roles, the last as vice president of US Footwear Sales and Merchandising.

Shawn Neville, president of Keds since 2004, brings a general management, sales and marketing experience to Saucony. His career consists of executive leadership roles in the worldwide athletic footwear business, including president and CEO of Footstar's athletic division and the management of Footaction, USA. He has held senior general management roles domestically and internationally at Reebok and senior marketing and sales positions at Reebok, Visa USA and Procter & Gamble.

Saucony supplies performance athletic footwear and apparel under the brands Saucony, Saucony Originals, and Spot-bilt.