Hibbett Sports, Inc. announced the promotion of Jeff Rosenthal, the company's vice president of merchandising, to president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. Rosenthal has been involved in the industry since 1981.
He currently serves as vice chairman/treasurer of the National Sporting Goods Association and has served as Hibbett's vice president of merchandising since 1998. Prior to joining Hibbett, Rosenthal was vice president and divisional merchandise manager for apparel with Champs Sports, a division of Foot Locker, Inc. from 1981 to 1998.
Commenting on the announcement, Mickey Newsome, chairman and chief executive officer, said, “The depth and experience of our management team have always been strong assets of Hibbett. Today, we acknowledge one of the major contributors to Hibbett's growth story. Jeff's experience in retail, his thorough knowledge of the Hibbett culture, and his respect within the industry made him the ideal person to help continue our success and lead the company forward.”
Rosenthal replaces Nissan Joseph, who resigned as president and chief operating officer in September 2008. Joseph, formerly president and CEO of Hickory Brands, Inc., had joined Hibbett in February 2008.
