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CEO transforming iconic footwear brands

David Kahan

CEO of Birkenstock Americas, David Kahan drives brand growth, retail strategy, and consumer engagement. He leads footwear industry transformation, drawing on expertise from Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, steering a 240-year-old brand to global breakthrough success.

Trusted by Nike, Reebok, Birkenstock

David Kahan, Speaker | CEO, Birkenstock Americas
David Kahan

David Kahan

San Francisco, United States

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San Francisco, United States

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David Kahan's biography

At a glance

  • Pioneered Macy's Athletic Club and footwear sales
  • Led Reebok North America through major acquisition
  • CEO driving Birkenstock Americas brand growth
David Kahan has built a long career in sporting goods, athletic apparel, and footwear, beginning as a part‑time sales associate at Macy’s while in college. After graduating, he completed Macy’s Executive Training Program and became the company’s first-ever Athletic Footwear Buyer. As he likes to say, he “went from working 15 hours a week in the store to 15 hours a DAY.” He launched the Macy’s Athletic Club, helping Macy’s become the largest department store retailer of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories in the U.S.; that success was covered in national outlets including the New York Times. Hired by Nike, Kahan became one of the company’s youngest managers and helped implement a strategic accounts management process that became an industry standard. He later served as Head of Reebok North America, managing a $1.6 billion business and participating in the leadership team through the company’s acquisition by the Adidas Group in 2006. He then contributed to the integration of the organizations and assumed leadership responsibility for Rockport, which introduced him to the brown‑shoe market. In 2013 Kahan took responsibility for Birkenstock in the U.S. He says, “We are the stewards of a brand that is now over 240 years old and dates back to a small village in Germany. In a world where fast fashion has become so widely accepted, we are the polar opposite — we remain steadfast in our commitment to quality, handmade engineering, and the values that are consistent with a fine German‑manufactured brand. We never compromise our brand values and we believe consumers are drawn to us because they share an emotional connection with our amazing brand and our products which give them healthy benefits.” Kahan is now Chief Executive Officer of Birkenstock Americas and is widely credited with helping drive the brand’s recent breakthrough. He serves on the boards of the FDRA (Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America), the Two Ten Foundation, and FFaNY (Fashion Footwear Association of New York).

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Why we recommend booking David

David transformed retail and brand performance across Macy’s, Nike, Reebok and Birkenstock, scaling Macy’s athletic business, managing $1.6B at Reebok, leading Birkenstock’s U.S. breakthrough, and bringing strategic accounts, integration, and board-level expertise rooted in brand stewardship and operational growth.

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Trusted by Nike, Reebok, Birkenstock

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book David Kahan for my next event?
Email david.kahan@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm David's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
What is David Kahan's speaking style like?
David Kahan draws on a career narrative spanning retail, brand management, and executive leadership — tracing a progression from part-time sales associate to CEO — to ground his talks in first-hand industry experience and long-term brand stewardship.
What topics does David Kahan specialise in?
David Kahan speaks on retail strategy, brand stewardship, and consumer trends in the sporting goods and footwear industries. He is Chief Executive Officer of Birkenstock Americas, having previously led Reebok North America as a $1.6 billion business through its 2006 acquisition by the Adidas Group.
Can PepTalk help plan the speaker programme for my event?

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