Hal N. Pennington, a 47-year veteran of Genesco, was named executive chairman in August 2008, after serving as chairman and chief executive officer since October 2004. He was appointed president and chief executive officer of Genesco in April 2002, having served as president and chief operating officer since November 2000. He was appointed executive vice president, chief operating officer and a director of Genesco in November 1999.

Pennington was named a senior vice president of Genesco in June 1998 and assumed responsibility for all Genesco branded wholesale operations in April 1999. Previously, Pennington had served as president of Johnston & Murphy since February 1997.

He became president of Dockers Footwear in October 1995 and served in that role until 1997. Prior to his tenure with Dockers, he served as vice president, wholesale, for Johnston & Murphy from 1990 to 1995. His previous positions with the Company include the areas of footwear operations, manufacturing operations, materials management, engineering, distribution, administrative services and information systems.

Pennington received his bachelor of science degree in industrial management from Auburn University.

Actively involved in the community, he currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art and the Nashville Symphony Association Board of Directors. He is also a director of Pinnacle Financial Partners. In addition, he has served in a variety of leadership roles with nonprofit organizations, including Leadership Nashville, Boy Scouts of America, United Way of Middle Tennessee, and the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, among others.