Dick’s losing top merchant and ops exec

Top Dick’s Sporting Goods executives Joe Schmidt and John Duken have announced plans to leave the retailer before the end of the fiscal year.



Schmidt has served as Dick’s president and COO since 2009. He joined the company in 1990 and has served in key leadership roles with the retailer during his 24 year tenure. Schmidt will remain with the company until the end of the fiscal year, but could leave sooner once a successor is named.



Departing the company sooner is John Duken, EVP of global merchandising. Duken has served in that capacity since 2012 and will leave by the end of November. He joined the company in 1999 and during his tenure held roles in operations, planning and allocation and merchandising.



Both men informed the company of their decision to retire on September 10, but Dick’s waited until September 16 to disclose their retirements in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



A search is underway to fill Schmidt’s role as president and CEO but Dick’s did not indicate whether it is seeking a replacement for Duken. The company did announce that effective September 15 Lee Belitsky had been appointed EVP of product development and planning, allocation and replenishment after previously serving as SVP of product development.



Belitsky joined Dick’s in 1997 as vp and controller and during his tenure has held positions in areas such as risk and compliance, strategic planning and analysis, treasury services, store operations and distribution and transportation.