Leslie’s, Inc., the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry, has announced the appointment of Jason McDonell as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 9, 2024. McDonell will also join Leslie’s Board of Directors upon taking on the new role.
Until McDonell assumes his duties, John Strain, Chairman of the Board, will serve as the Interim Chief Executive Officer. Strain steps into this role following the departure of Michael Egeck, 65, who has resigned from both his position as CEO and his seat on the Board.
McDonell comes to Leslie’s with nearly 30 years of experience in retail and consumer products. His most recent position was as Executive Vice President of Merchandising, Marketing, and e-Commerce at Advance Auto Parts, where he played a crucial role in driving omnichannel growth for the company’s $11 billion family of brands. At Advance Auto Parts, McDonell managed more than 200 global suppliers and a global team of professionals. Prior to this, McDonell spent 21 years with PepsiCo, culminating in his role as Canada President and General Manager for PepsiCo Foods, a $2.5 billion business that included the Canadian Frito-Lay and Quaker brands. He began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. He has also completed several Executive Leadership Programs at Harvard Business School.
“I am pleased to welcome Jason as the next CEO of Leslie’s and look forward to working with him,” stated John Strain, Leslie’s Chairman of the Board. “He brings to Leslie’s an impressive combination of retail and consumer products expertise, including a track record of building and growing industry-leading brands. His wealth of knowledge at the nexus of product, brand and marketing, combined with his operational experience and proven leadership abilities, make him well-suited to lead Leslie’s into its next chapter.”
McDonell expressed his enthusiasm for joining Leslie’s at a pivotal time in the company’s history. “Leslie’s has an impressive foundation with its advantaged omnichannel platform, strong market position, and superior customer service, and I am excited to be joining Leslie’s at this exciting time in the Company’s history,” he said. “I have deep respect for the talented Leslie’s team, which has laid the groundwork to deliver sustainable growth as the pool industry normalizes, and I look forward to working with them to build on the Company’s efforts to drive long-term value creation.”
Strain also extended his appreciation to the departing CEO, Michael Egeck, saying, “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Mike for his contributions to Leslie’s over the past four years and wish him well.”
Photo Credits: Leslie’s Inc.
The post Leslie’s Inc. Appoints Jason McDonnell as New CEO appeared first on PoolMagazine.com – Get The Latest Pool News.
