Régis Schultz
Chief executive of JD Sports Fashion
Régis Schultz is a French retail executive who has been chief executive of JD Sports Fashion, the UK listed sports fashion retailer, since 2022. Before JD he ran some of the best known chains in French and Middle Eastern retail, including Darty, Monoprix and Al-Futtaim Retail, and built a reputation for pushing physical retailers into e-commerce and digital services.
| Role | Chief executive, JD Sports Fashion |
|---|---|
| Since | 2022 |
| Born | 1968 |
| Nationality | French |
| Previous roles | Darty, Monoprix, Al-Futtaim Retail |
| Education | Paris Dauphine University |
Who is Régis Schultz?
Régis Schultz, born in December 1968, is a French executive whose career spans drinks, home improvement, consumer electronics, grocery and fashion retail. Since 2022 he has been chief executive of JD Sports Fashion, one of the largest sports fashion retailers in Europe and a key distribution partner for brands such as Nike and Adidas. He graduated from Paris Dauphine University in 1993.
Career
Schultz began in finance roles at the Pernod Ricard group between 1993 and 1997, including as a financial controller at Orangina and later finance director of CSR Pampryl. He then joined Kingfisher, where he worked at Castorama France as finance director and deputy chief executive, before moving to the UK business B&Q, where he held strategy, finance, commercial and operating roles until 2008.
- BUT: chief executive of the French furniture and appliance retailer, 2008 to 2013
- Darty: chief executive of Darty plc and chairman of Darty France, 2013 to 2016
- Monoprix: president and member of the Groupe Casino executive committee, 2016 to 2019
- Al-Futtaim Retail: chairman and chief executive, 2019 to 2022
- JD Sports Fashion: chief executive since 2022
Influence on the fashion business
At JD Sports, Schultz took over a fast growing but founder led business and introduced a more structured corporate strategy. In February 2023 the company set out a five year growth plan built on double digit sales growth and an aggressive store opening programme of around 350 new stores per year, with a strong focus on international expansion, particularly in North America. For brands, JD under his leadership is a critical wholesale gateway to young consumers in sneakers and athleisure.
His earlier move at Monoprix to acquire the online shoe retailer Sarenza also gave a French grocery and fashion chain a significant pure play fashion e-commerce asset.
Régis Schultz and technology
Digital transformation is a consistent thread in his career. At BUT he digitised stores, launched an e-commerce website and introduced new inventory management systems. At Darty he oversaw store digitisation, same day delivery, the connected Darty button customer service device and the launch of an online marketplace. At Monoprix he partnered with Amazon Prime Now and Ocado on delivery, took a stake in Epicery and introduced voice shopping with Google and mobile payment options.
Why it matters
Schultz represents a generation of retail leaders who treat stores, logistics and digital channels as one operating system. As head of one of the most important retail partners for global sportswear brands, his decisions on store formats, international expansion and omnichannel investment shape how sneaker and sports fashion reaches consumers in many markets.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Régis Schultz?
Régis Schultz is a French retail executive and the chief executive of JD Sports Fashion since 2022. He previously led BUT, Darty, Monoprix and Al-Futtaim Retail.
What is Régis Schultz known for?
He is known for digitally driven retail transformations in France, including e-commerce and delivery initiatives at Darty and Monoprix, and for JD Sports' five year growth plan announced in 2023.