Shoe Carnival appoints Cliff Sifford as interim CEO following departure of Mark Worden

US footwear retailer Shoe Carnival has announced that Cliff Sifford, the current vice chairman of the board, has been named interim president and chief executive officer, effective February 24, 2026. Sifford succeeds Mark Worden, who has departed from his executive roles and resigned from the board of directors.

The company has confirmed it will initiate a search for a permanent successor to lead the Evansville-based business. The transition marks the return of a veteran leader to the helm, as Sifford previously served as CEO from October 2012 until September 2021.

Leadership continuity and strategic transition

Sifford has been an integral part of the organization since 1997. His most recent executive tenure as vice chairman and CEO concluded in September 2021, after which he maintained his influence on the board.

Charlie Tomm, lead independent director on the board of directors, expressed gratitude for the contributions of Worden while emphasizing the board's confidence in Sifford. Tomm stated that the proven leadership and vast knowledge of the business possessed by Sifford make him the right person to lead the organization during this next chapter of transformation and growth.

Sifford commented that he is honored to lead the retailer as it seeks to become the leading family footwear provider in the country. He will work alongside the existing executive team to execute the strategic plan of the company.

Fiscal 2025 preliminary results

Alongside the leadership change, Shoe Carnival released preliminary financial results for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2026. The retailer reported net sales of 1.135 billion dollars for the period.

The company expects earnings per share to be 1.90 dollars, exceeding consensus expectations by 0.03 dollars.