Dave Powers

Dave Powers has served as President and CEO of Deckers Brands since 2016, presiding over one of the most dramatic growth stories in the footwear industry. Deckers' portfolio includes HOKA (performance running shoes), UGG (fashion footwear and lifestyle), Teva (outdoor sandals), and Sanuk (casual footwear). The company's stock has increased more than tenfold under Powers' leadership, driven primarily by the explosive growth of HOKA. HOKA, acquired by Deckers in 2013 for a modest sum, has grown from a niche ultra-running brand into one of the world's fastest-growing athletic footwear brands with revenue exceeding $2 billion. HOKA's oversized, maximally cushioned midsoles — originally designed for downhill ultra-running — resonated with a broad audience from serious runners seeking joint-friendly shoes to fashion consumers embracing the chunky sneaker trend. The brand has expanded from running into hiking, walking, fitness, and lifestyle categories. UGG, long stereotyped as a winter boot brand, has been successfully reinvented under Powers as a year-round fashion brand through collaborations, new silhouettes (platform shoes, slippers, slides), and cultural positioning with younger consumers. Key stock drivers include HOKA revenue growth rate, HOKA's ability to sustain momentum against Nike, New Balance, and On Running, UGG's seasonal diversification, direct-to-consumer channel growth, international expansion (particularly in Europe and Asia), and gross margin trajectory.