Global Brand Footwear Reincarnated

Titan Buys Footwear Giant, Hires CEO

Before the fall: Global Brand Marketing founder and CEO Sudeepto "Killick" Datta in 2006 in front of the 50,000-square-foot Goleta headquarters.

Global Brand Marketing Inc., headquartered in Santa Barbara, was purchased by Titan Apparel, which is part of Titan Global Holdings, a Texas-based holding company. GBMI founder Killick Datta, winner of the 2004 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, was appointed CEO and president of Titan Apparel.

GBMI has been going through a tumultuous spell of financial and legal battles which led to GBMI’s laying off its entire workforce. The buyout by Titan has allowed the Global Feet store in downtown Santa Barbara to reopen, and in spring, after liquidating its current stock, the company plans to release a new line of merchandise.