James Curleigh has resigned as president and chief executive of Keen Footwear to become executive vice president of Levi Strauss & Co. and president of the Levi's brand. Rory Fuerst, founder of Keen, has taken on the CEO function and launched a search for a new president. He has also announced the adoption of a new five-year strategy plan for Keen. With his ebullient personality, the 46-year-old Curleigh has doubled Keen's turnover since he joined the company four years ago, recording consistent double-digit growth, partly through its diversification from the original Newport sandal. Curleigh is well-known in the sporting goods sector. Before joining Keen, he worked for M&M Mars, established the European division of TaylorMade-adidas Golf and ran Salomon in North America.