– USA, AL – Hibbett Sports, Inc. (NASDAQ: HIBB), an athletic-inspired fashion retailer, today announced that Michael E. Longo has been named President and CEO, effective December 16, 2019.
Mr. Longo will succeed Jeff Rosenthal, who announced his planned retirement in March of 2019. In addition, effective with his appointment as CEO, Mr. Longo will replace Mr. Rosenthal on the Company’s Board of Directors.
“We are very pleased to name Mike Longo as President and CEO after a thorough search and selection process by the Board of Directors. We have had the opportunity to work with Mike over the last year as President of City Gear. Given Mike’s extensive retail industry and leadership experience, we believe he is uniquely qualified to help strengthen Hibbett’s leadership position in both the customer experience and the active footwear and apparel industry. Mike has a demonstrated track record for assessing evolving consumer and customer trends and needs and managing with an eye toward not only the short-term but the long-term as well. His leadership skills, strategic acumen, dedication and integrity will be invaluable as we apply a laser focus to the rapidly changing retail marketplace. We look forward to working with Mike as he leads Hibbett forward and to his contributions to the Company’s Board of Directors.” said Anthony F. Crudele, Chairman of the Board.
“The Board would also like to express its appreciation to Jeff Rosenthal for his 21 years of service, including nine as President and Chief Executive Officer and six serving on the Company’s Board of Directors, and for setting a high standard of leadership and excellence for the Company. We are indebted to his focus on the business during this transition and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” he added.
About Mike Longo
Mr. Longo served as CEO for Memphis-based City Gear, LLC., where he oversaw the successful acquisition of the company in 2018 by Hibbett Sports. Establishing the company in 2006, he was instrumental in creating a unique brand in city specialty retailers and grew the business through various acquisitions. Prior to City Gear, he worked in positions of increasing leadership roles with AutoZone, Inc. starting as a Vice President in 1996 to Executive Vice President in 2005. In addition, he has served on the Board of Directors of Heniff Transportation Company since 2017 and Exide Technologies since 2015, currently serving as its Operations Committee Chairman and as a member of both its Audit and Governance Committees.
Mr. Longo said, “I am humbled and extremely honored to be appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Hibbett Sports. It’s a very exciting time for Hibbett as we continue our mission of improving the productivity of our store base while also growing the omnichannel business to deliver a differentiated customer experience to underserved markets. I look forward to working with the Company’s Board of Directors, leadership team and all Hibbett employees to further that mission.”
Mr. Longo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy and an MBA from Harvard University.
About Hibbett Sports, Inc.
Hibbett, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, is a leading athletic-inspired fashion retailer with approximately 1,100 stores under the Hibbett Sports and City Gear banners, primarily located in small and mid-sized communities. Founded in 1945, Hibbett has a rich history of convenient locations, personalized customer service and access to coveted footwear, apparel and equipment from top brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, and Under Armour.
For more information: https://www.hibbett.com
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