PetSmart LLC, a well-known retailer offering products, services, and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets, announced on Monday that J.K. Symancyk had stepped down as president, chief executive officer, and board member with immediate effect. Alan Schnaid, who has been the company’s executive vice-president and chief financial officer since 2017, has taken over as interim president and chief executive officer until a successor is in place.
The company said in a release that the board of directors has initiated a search for a new chief executive officer in partnership with a leading executive search firm. “On behalf of the board and all of the pet-passionate associates at PetSmart, I want to thank J.K. for his meaningful contributions to the company over the last six years,” said Raymond Svider, chairman of the board. “J.K. led the company through significant growth, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Svider added, “PetSmart is the leading pet specialty retailer offering a compelling assortment of products and services along with a convenient omni-channel experience for pet parents. Alan has been instrumental in building our strategy and we are confident in his ability to continue to carry it out as we search for a new CEO to lead PetSmart into the future.”
Earlier, Schnaid was chief financial officer at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc., where he was responsible for the global finance, accounting, tax, treasury, planning, risk management, and investor relations functions. He spent more than 22 years with Starwood in various finance roles, including corporate controller and chief accounting officer.
Prior to Starwood, he worked for several accounting firms. Schnaid also serves on the board of CommLoan, Inc., a company that provides a marketplace for lenders and borrowers in the commercial real estate space.
Symancyk will take over from Virginia ‘Gina’ Drosos as chief executive officer of Signet Jewelers when she retires on November 4.
PetSmart operates nearly 1,700 pet stores in the USA, Canada, and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities. It provides a range of competitively priced pet food and products as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp, and pet adoption. PetSmart, PetSmart Charities, and PetSmart Charities of Canada work with nearly 4,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so that they have the best possible chance of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption programme and other signature events, the company claimed to have facilitated over 10 million adoptions, more than any other brick-and-mortar organization.
SOURCE: PR Newswire
