Group Vice President, Store Design and Development
Kenneth Cole Productions

Upon graduating from Cornell University, Christine Russo’s career started in management consulting at a Big Six, where she was exposed to varied businesses. During this time, she learned of the business of branding and knew immediately that this was for her. The combination of creative and analytical thinking was perfect.

During five ensuing years at J. Crew, she learned retail and store openings and developed a passion for store design. She attended Parsons to study design and attended a semester field study in Venice through a Pratt in Venice Program.

After her stint at J. Crew, she joined Kenneth Cole and has enjoyed a 14-year tenure. She admires what Kenneth stands for and considers herself honored to be able to work for such a wonderful retailer and humanitarian. Branding remains a passion, and the psychology of retail never ceases to amaze her. Her responsibilities include environmental branding for domestic and international stores as well as shop-in-shops and showrooms for Kenneth Cole and its other brands.

Russo says that as a young Cornell grad, she'd had no idea that people got paid for creating compelling customer shopping experiences, but it was her destiny. Her grandfather (who died before she was born) was a graduate of Pratt Institute and owned and operated a retail fixture company on Long Island, N.Y. One of his clients was Macy’s and several others were footwear companies. One of his Christmas P-O-P items is now a treasured family heirloom.

She is on the Editorial Advisory Board of VMSD, has been an awards Presenter at the Retail Design Institute’s Annual Gala, and, in 2007, worked with the PAVE Gala Committee.