SportsShoes.com appoints former In The Style chief technology officer

SportsShoes.com has hired a former chief technology officer (CTO) of online fashion retailer In The Style.

Jon Cleaver has joined the ￡92m turnover business as CTO to continually enhance SportsShoes.com’s online customer and athlete experience.

He has also previously held CTO positions at furniture retailer Sofology and, most recently, European sneaker and streetwear marketplace KLEKT.

In addition, Jon will deliver activity to retain and grow repeat business from the new customers that the business secured over the course of the pandemic when people turned to outdoor activity to keep fit.

Alongside his professional career, Jon is also an athlete who has represented Lancashire at cross county running events. He recently achieved his marathon personal best of 2 hrs 33 mins running for the SportsShoes.com team at this year’s Paris marathon.

Commenting on his appointment, Jon said: “As an active athlete, and someone who has bought products from SportsShoes.com dozens of times, I have an insight into the wants and needs of our customers.

“I am working with the company’s highly talented team of inhouse developers and marketers to not just make our website best-in-class, but to also grow our customer and athlete communities.

“SportsShoes.com is a business with a clear purpose-led vision. The company is as ambitious as it is innovative, and I look forward to playing my role in its continued success and evolution.”

Earlier this year, SportsShoes.com announced its intention to become the world’s most sustainable running equipment retailer by 2025. Called ‘Leave No Footprints’, SportsShoes.com’s sustainability strategy also includes becoming carbon net-zero in the future.

Last November, the company appointed former CEO of Asics EMEA, Alistair Cameron, as non-executive director to help drive further national and international growth.

Welcoming Jon to the company, SportsShoes.com managing director, Brett Bannister, said: “The fact that Jon is an athlete and customer, as well as an outstanding CTO, gives him a unique perspective on our business.

“Jon and I have talked at length about his plans to make SportsShoes.com a best-in-class customer experience, as well as the most technology-led retailer in running and performance sports, and we have already started to implement some of his ideas.

?“Put simply, we want to continually improve as a business whilst helping people enhance their lives and health through running and fitness. The work of Jon and his team will help us deliver those objectives nationally and internationally by further connecting with our customers, securing new brand partners and providing innovative new services.”