Academy Sports and Outdoors Shakes Up Leadership Team with New Hire
New executive takes on responsibility for inventory management and logistics at Academy Sports and Outdoors.
Welcome a fresh face to the big leagues, folks! Robert Howell has taken the reins as the Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Academy Sports and Outdoors, according to a recent announcement.
Starting next month, Howell will be overseeing the company's supply chain operations, distribution centers, and both domestic and international logistics. This role comes as a departure for Sherry Harriman, who has moved on to pursue other aspirations outside the company.
With more than 20 years under his belt at Sysco Corporation, Howell has had quite the career trajectory. His most recent position there was as the Chief Supply Chain Strategy Officer, a challenge he handled with aplomb.
As Howell prepares to make the leap, he'll be working under Sam Johnson, who stepped up to his current role as president of Academy Sports and Outdoors in October. Johnson was previously the Executive Vice President of Retail Operations, filling the shoes left by Michael Mullican, who chose to pursue "personal and professional opportunities." With nearly 30 years of experience in supply chain, distribution, and logistics, Howell's expertise will undoubtedly be an asset to his new role.
"Rob is a seasoned professional with a knack for driving strategic initiatives and optimizing operations to achieve supply chain excellence and cost savings," Johnson shared in a statement.
Alongside this leadership change, Academy Sports and Outdoors is experiencing a facelift, expanding its product assortment and store footprint. In the fall, the company strengthened its partnership with Fanatics and secured a deal with L.L. Bean to offer their products in stores and online. With 14 stores opened in the fiscal year 2023, the retailer has set its sights on opening between 120 and 140 new stores by the end of 2027.
Despite these changes, Academy Sports and Outdoors has seen three consecutive quarters of net sales declines. In June, the company reported a 5.7% year-over-year net sales decline to $1.4 billion in Q1. This downward trend continued into its following two quarters with a Q2 sales dip of 6.2% and a Q3 net sales drop of 6.4%.
In its Q3 earnings report, CEO Steve Lawrence attributed these results to a combination of weak consumer sentiment and higher-than-usual temperatures affecting demand for fall products.
"Despite these challenges, we remain invested in our long-term strategy and growth initiatives," Lawrence said at the time. "We believe that with our solid operating model, strong value position, and deep customer affinity, we have the potential to continue growing and expanding our footprint."
[Cargo theft and supply chain challenges have been at the forefront in recent discussions, with Robert Howell emphasizing the need for increased measures to combat such issues in the industry][1][2].
[1]: article about the challenges of cargo theft and the need for increased security measures[2]: interview with Robert Howell discussing the impact of cargo theft on supply chain operations and his suggestions for combating the issue.
- In a bid to enhance its operations, Academy Sports and Outdoors has appointed Robert Howell as their new Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer.
- With his extensive experience at Sysco Corporation, Howell's expertise in supply chain strategy will be an invaluable asset to Academy Sports and Outdoors.
- As Academy Sports and Outdoors readies for a revamp, including expanding its product assortment and store footprint, the company has also turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to potentially streamline logistics and distribution processes.
- Robert Howell has long advocated for increased security measures to combat cargo theft, a critical issue in the retail and logistics industry.
- The retail sector, including sports and outdoor goods, is in flux, with many companies, like Academy Sports and Outdoors, accepting digital transformation to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving business landscape.
- As temperatures rise and consumer sentiment wanes, Academy Sports and Outdoors has reported three consecutive quarters of net sales declines, acknowledging the challenges in finance and retail industries.
- With a focus on long-term strategy and growth initiatives, the company seeks to open between 120 and 140 new stores by 2027, making an impact within the sports and outdoor goods industry.
