PetSmart Announces CEO Transition

PetSmart today announced that J.K. Symancyk is stepping down from his role as President, Chief Executive Officer and board member, effective immediately. Alan Schnaid, who has served as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2017, will serve as interim President and Chief Executive Officer until a successor is in place. The company’s Board of Directors has already initiated a CEO search 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 during 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.”

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’re confident in his ability to continue to carry it out as we search for a new CEO to lead PetSmart into the future.”

Prior to PetSmart, Schnaid served as Chief Financial Officer of 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.

Earlier in his career, he worked for several accounting firms. Alan also serves on the board of CommLoan, Inc., a company that provides a marketplace for lenders and borrowers in the commercial real estate space.