Payless ShoeSource Inc. is bringing in the boss of a Nike subsidiary to replace its longtime chairman and CEO, who is resigning to pursue other interests.

Steven J. Douglass, who has led Topeka-based Payless for more than a decade, said Thursday that he was leaving the company in July – a decision “mutually agreed” upon by himself and the Payless board of directors.

His replacement will be Matthew Rubel, who has been chairman and CEO of Cole Haan, a wholly-owned Nike subsidiary, since 1999.

“I look forward to a seamless transition of leadership and continued business momentum,” Douglass said, in a statement.

Payless also said that it would appoint a nonexecutive chairman at a later date.

The move came a week after Payless reported that its profits more then doubled for the first quarter, with same-store sales increasing 2.7 percent from the same period a year earlier. The results followed up on fourth-quarter results that showed signs of progress in the company’s previously announced turnaround effort.

Payless has struggled amid intense competition from discounters such as Wal-Mart Inc., Target Corp. and Kohl’s Corp., which offer family footwear alongside hundreds of other products that Payless does not.

Rubel said in a statement that he was looking forward to building on Payless’ “unique and powerful platform,” one that he would work to leverage through the firm’s “strengths” in sourcing and distribution.

Payless has its world headquarters and a distribution center in Topeka, and many of the company’s Topeka employees live in Lawrence. Payless has 4,646 stores, including one in Lawrence.

Before joining Cole Haan, Rubel was executive vice president for J. Crew Group and CEO of Popular Club Plan from 1994 to 1999. He previously was president and CEO of Pepe Jeans USA and president of Revlon’s specialty division.