Dive Brief:

• DSW Inc., the footwear retailer, announced Drew Domecq joined the the company as its senior VP and CIO beginning Monday, according to a company announcement. He'll be taking the place of former CIO Ashlee Aldridge. Domecq will report to the retailer's CEO Roger Rawlins, who was DSW's VP and CIO before before taking on his current role in 2015.

• As the new CIO, Domecq is expected to oversee the "evolution" of DSW's digital platforms to better customer experience in stores and online. He will also aid in the launch of the retailer's loyalty program and the integration of the recently acquired Canada's Town Shoes Ltd., according to the announcement.

• Domecq was formerly the CIO of Bob Evans Farms, Inc. from 2016 to 2018 and VP of enterprise solutions at Wendy's from 2013 to 2016, according to Domecq's LinkedIn profile.

Dive Insight:

DSW reported Q4 sales that were less than expected, and execs within the company promptly announced the closure of the Ebuys business, a 2016 acquisition that cost the retailer $62.5 million.

The retailer is making a conscious effort to avoid intricacies that extend beyond its core business like "learning new inventory management systems" and "greater accountability," reports Retail Dive. Domecq enters the retail industry with years of experience in commercial and brand IT.

DSW has shown it values the leadership provided in the CIO role, having seen its top executive once holding the position. It also showcases the company's faith in digital transformation in terms of how retail can be reshaped in the age of e-commerce as traditional, physical stores try to stand their ground against competitors like Amazon.

Brick and mortar retailers are struggling to maintain their vitality despite online sales remaining below 10% in all retail sales. But to maintain a competitive edge, retailers like DSW are reevaluating their relationship with technology.

Domecq's predecessor, Aldridge, said they were in "software jail" when there were shortcomings between tech providers and their customers, like DSW, according to the InFor Blog.  

Building a relationship between tech providers and enterprise customers is an increasing trend. As more companies like Microsoft and Amazon work to bring SaaS and other customer-facing resources to their offerings, customers can expect more transparency across digital solutions.