Inside TOMS’ Turnaround: CCO Katie Wagner on Wholesale Growth and Brand Reinvention
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Managing Editor Marie Albiges interviews Katie Wagner, chief commercial officer at TOMS, a Certified B Corporation global lifestyle brand known for its iconic shoes and giving model. Listen in as Wagner reflects on the first 20 years of the TOMS brand (2:05), the evolution of its giving model (5:55), the importance of impact consistency to consumer trust (7:40), and balancing its iconic heritage with a brand refresh (10:40).
In addition, Wagner shares why she decided to join TOMS (12:45), her advice for maintaining professional relationships (15:20), and lessons learned from her time at Crocs (17:40). She discusses wholesale as a long-term growth engine (20:20), how she’s approaching her first 90 days at TOMS (24:20), and creating a culture of curiosity and trust for her teams (27:00). Lastly, Wagner details what it takes to succeed as a chief commercial officer today (33:00).
Katie Wagner serves as chief commercial officer at TOMS, a pivotal leadership role overseeing all global sales channels, including wholesale sales and operations, e-commerce, and marketplaces. Wagner steps into the position following a successful advisory period guiding the brand’s wholesale strategy and brings nearly two decades of commercial leadership experience from her time at Crocs and HEYDUDE. In those roles, she led major teams and drove significant growth across the global footwear industry. Known for her disciplined execution and consumer-centric mindset, Wagner’s expertise lies in strengthening partnerships and building high-performing cross-functional teams. Wagner’s accomplished track record makes her the ideal leader to help TOMS improve operating performance and unlock new opportunities for brand expansion.
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Date: February 16, 2026
Credits: Katie Wagner
Duration: 36:46
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