Genesco's Robert J. Dennis to speak at Nashville Business Breakfast Oct. 2
Kim Chaudoin |
Robert J. Dennis, chairman and chief executive officer of Genesco Inc., will be the featured speaker at Lipscomb University’s Nashville Business Breakfast at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, in Allen Arena.
Dennis was named chairman of Genesco in April 2010, adding to his existing responsibilities as president and chief executive officer. He had served as president and chief executive officer since August 2008 and president and chief operating officer since October 2006, when he also became a director of the company. Genesco, a Nashville-based specialty retailer, sells footwear, headwear, sports apparel and accessories in more than 2,400 retail stores throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Shi by Journeys, Schuh, Lids, Lids Locker Room, Johnston & Murphy and Underground by Journeys.
Cost of the breakfast is $30 in advance and $40 at the door. Registration is available online at leadership.lipscomb.edu or by calling 615.966.6609.
Dennis, who became chief executive officer of Hat World Inc. in 2001, was named a senior vice president of Genesco in June 2004 following the Company’s acquisition of Hat World and was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of Genesco in October 2005.
A 27-year retail veteran, his experience includes a senior position with Asbury Automotive from 1997 to 1999. From 1984 to 1997 he was with McKinsey & Company, an international consulting firm, becoming a leader of the North American Retail Practice and a partner in 1990.
Dennis holds a master of business administration degree, with distinction, from the Harvard Business School, with a focus on consumer marketing, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biochemical engineering and organic chemistry, with honors, from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
In addition, Dennis was named a director of Teavana Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TEA) in July 2011. He also serves on the board of directors with the United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, the Nashville Symphony, and serves on the Board of Visitors at Vanderbilt University’s Owen School of Management.
The Nashville Business Breakfast is a quarterly networking event presented by Lipscomb University and the Nashville Business Journal, with a news-conference style format, featuring business leaders with local economic impact. The event is sponsored by PNC Bank.
Recent speakers include Jim Wright, CEO of Tractor Supply Company; Mike Munchak, Tennessee Titans head coach; Gov. Bill Haslam; Colin Reed, CEO and president of Gaylord Entertainment; Michael Woodhouse, chairman, president and CEO of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store; Bill Winsor, president and chief executive officer of Market Center Management Company (MCMC), developing the Medical Trade Center in Nashville; Carlos Tavares, chairman, Nissan Motor Company's Management Committee; Mark Emkes, CEO of Bridgestone Americas; and Kix Brooks, country music artist and former chairman of the Country Music Association.