Specialty athletic retailer Foot Locker has elected Ken Hicks president and chief executive officer, effective August 17. Mr Hicks was also elected a member of the company's board.

Mr Hicks will succeed Matthew Serra, who has been CEO since March 2001 and chairman since February 2004. Mr Serra will continue as chairman until his planned retirement on January 30, 2010. He will also retire from the Foot Locker board on that date.

Mr Hicks has served as president and chief merchandising officer of J.C. Penney since 2005 and has been a member of its board since 2008. From 2002 to 2004 he was Penney's president and chief operating officer of stores and merchandise operations. Before joining Penney, he was president of Payless ShoeSource.

Mr Serra joined Foot Locker in 1998 as president and CEO of Foot Locker Worldwide. He became president and COO in 2000.

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