Pittsburgh — DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc., the largest U.S.-based, omnichannel sporting goods retailer, has named Edward W. Stack, chairman and chief executive officer, to assume the role of executive chairman and continue as chief merchant on February 1, 2021. He also will oversee key strategic growth initiatives for the company.
Stack has served as chairman and CEO of DICK’S since he and his siblings bought his father’s two small sporting goods stores in upstate New York in 1984. Today, DICK’s has more than 850 stores.
The company’s board of directors also unanimously elected Lauren R. Hobart, the current president of DICK’S, as president and CEO, also effective February 1, 2021. Her appointment is an important step in the company’s long term succession plan undertaken by the board and Stack.
“This is the perfect time for this transition,” Stack says. “We have the best management team in the company’s history, and the investments we have made in our people, our stores and our communities are paying off. I look forward to continuing to lead merchandising, product development and several strategic growth initiatives while supporting Lauren as a trusted advisor. She has proven herself to be a capable, innovative and respected leader who has helped drive our business and our culture.”
Hobart brings more than 25 years of finance, consumer and retail experience and spent 14 years at PepsiCo in various leadership roles before she joined DICK’S as chief marketing officer in 2011. She was appointed president in 2017 and joined the board of directors the following year. Since joining DICK’S, Hobart has revamped the company’s marketing efforts and helped drive its robust e-commerce strategy, among other substantive growth initiatives. She has enhanced the company’s exceptional customer service offering and improved the omnichannel customer experience.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, DICK’S also owns and operates Golf Galaxy and Field & Stream specialty stores, as well as GameChanger, a youth sports mobile app for scheduling, communications and live scorekeeping. For more information, visit www.dicks.com.
SOURCE: DICK’S Sporting Goods