PetSmart CEO exits; temporary replacement named
PetSmart has tapped another C-level executive to replace its outgoing president and CEO on a temporary basis.
The pet supplies and services retailer said that J.K. Symancyk has stepped down from his role as president, CEO and board member, effective immediately. No reason was given for his departure.
PetSmart named Alan Schnaid, who has served as the company's executive VP and CFO since 2017, as interim president and CEO until a successor is in place. Prior to PetSmart, Schnaid served as CFO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., where he spent more than 22 years in various finance roles, including corporate controller and chief accounting officer. Earlier in his career, Schnaid worked for several accounting firms.
The company's board of directors has initiated a CEO search in partnership with an executive search firm.
Symancyk was appointed CEO of PetSmart in 2018. He succeeded Michael Massey, who abruptly resigned from the company in August 2017. Prior to PetSmart, Symancyk was with Academy Sports + Outdoors, where he had served as president and CEO since 2015.
"On behalf of the board and all of the associates at PetSmart, I want to thank J.K. [Symancyk] for his meaningful contributions to the company over the last six years," said Raymond Svider, chairman of the board of directors. "J.K. led the company through significant growth, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alan has been instrumental in building our strategy and we're confident in his ability to continue to carry it out as we search for a new CEO to lead PetSmart into the future."
Earlier this year, PetSmart launched its new Treats Rewards loyalty program, an upgrade of its previously existing loyalty offering with more than 67 million members.
Based in Phoenix, PetSmart operates nearly 1,700 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities.
