STOCK TITAN

BARK Announces Appointment of Two New Independent Directors

Rhea-AI Impact
(Low)
Rhea-AI Sentiment
(Very Positive)
Tags
management
Rhea-AI Summary

BARK, Inc. (NYSE: BARK) has announced the immediate addition of Paulette Dodson and Michele Meyer to its Board of Directors. Ms. Dodson brings extensive legal and corporate governance experience, having served in senior roles at Alight, PetSmart, and Sara Lee. Meanwhile, Ms. Meyer has over 30 years of experience in the CPG industry, notably as President at General Mills, where she led significant market growth. Both executives aim to leverage their backgrounds to enhance BARK's strategic initiatives and foster long-term growth. CEO Matt Meeker emphasized their potential to drive value for customers and shareholders.

Positive
  • Paulette Dodson's extensive legal and corporate governance experience may strengthen BARK's operational integrity.
  • Michele Meyer's background in consumer goods could enhance BARK's marketing and product development strategies.
Negative
  • The introduction of new board members may lead to temporary disruptions during the transition.
  • Concerns may arise regarding the continuity of existing strategies due to the new leadership dynamics.

Seasoned Industry Executives Paulette Dodson and Michele Meyer Bring Complementary Skillsets and Public Company Experience to Board

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BARK, Inc. (“BARK” or the “Company”) (NYSE: BARK), a leading global omnichannel dog brand with the mission to make all dogs happy, today announced that, effective immediately, Paulette Dodson and Michele Meyer are joining the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

Ms. Dodson and Ms. Meyer each bring significant industry experience, rounding out the Board’s experience across operations, legal, corporate governance, marketing, and finance functions. Ms. Dodson is the former General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Alight, Inc., PetSmart Inc., and Sara Lee Corporation, and Ms. Meyer is the former President of the Snacks and Meals Operating Units at General Mills, Inc.

“We are pleased to welcome Paulette and Michele, two highly esteemed and proven executives with significant industry and public company experience, to our Board,” said Matt Meeker, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BARK. “Paulette is a trusted advisor who throughout her career has played an integral role in driving strategic change on a global scale, including at PetSmart. Similarly, Michele’s combination of creative, strategic, and operational experience will bring important insights to BARK as we continue to deliver on our long-term growth strategy. Their collective experience driving significant value at leading consumer, retail, and food brands will be additive to BARK’s Board and help us better serve our customers and shareholders.”

“I have long admired the brand BARK is building and the differentiated products and services offered across its impressive array of business lines,” said Ms. Dodson. “I am pleased to join the Board at this exciting point in the Company’s journey and look forward to working collaboratively with my fellow directors to help create value for all stakeholders.”

“I have great respect for BARK’s unique mission to improve the lives of dogs through personalized data-driven insights and an unparalleled focus on customer engagement,” said Ms. Meyer. “I look forward to working closely with the Company’s leadership team and Board to continue to execute on this mission.”

About Paulette Dodson
Ms. Dodson is a highly experienced legal, strategic, and operational executive who most recently served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Alight, Inc. (NYSE: ALIT), a global human capital and business solutions provider. Prior to that, Ms. Dodson served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of PetSmart, Inc., where she guided the board and company through major corporate transactions and change. She also led PetSmart Charities, North America’s largest animal welfare organization at the time, through a full strategic review and organizational transformation. Previously, Ms. Dodson was General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, and Chief Counsel for North America at CPG company Sara Lee Corporation, and Assistant General Counsel of publishing at the Tribune Company. Ms. Dodson currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of Mather, Portillo’s Inc. (NASDAQ: PTLO), and the United Way of Metro Chicago. She holds a BA from City College of New York and JD from Cornell Law School.

About Michele Meyer
Ms. Meyer is a CPG industry veteran who worked for over 30 years at General Mills, Inc. Most recently, Ms. Meyer served as President of the Snacks Operating Unit, where she led the unit to market share growth through new product launches and strategic advertising, marketing, digital and eCommerce initiatives. During her tenure at General Mills, Ms. Meyer held multiple P&L leadership roles, including as President of Small Planet Foods as well as the Meals Operating Units, and led multiple M&A initiatives, including the acquisitions of Larabar, Food Should Taste Good and Annie’s Brands. Ms. Meyer currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of Quinn Foods and Kevin’s Natural Foods and is a former board member of GNC. She holds a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University and MBA from the University of Texas, Austin.

About BARK
BARK is the world’s most dog-centric company, devoted to making dogs happy with the best products, services and content. BARK’s dog-obsessed team applies its unique, data-driven understanding of what makes each dog special to design playstyle-specific toys, wildly satisfying treats, great food for your dog’s breed, effective and easy to use dental care, and dog-first experiences that foster the health and happiness of dogs everywhere. Founded in 2011, BARK loyally serves dogs nationwide with themed toys and treats subscriptions, BarkBox and BARK Super Chewer; custom product collections through its retail partner network, including Target and Amazon; its high-quality, nutritious meals made for your breed with BARK Food; and products that meet dogs’ dental needs with BARK Bright®. At BARK, we want to make dogs as happy as they make us because dogs and humans are better together. Sniff around at bark.co for more information.

Investors:

Michael Mougias

investors@barkbox.com



Media:

Garland Harwood

press@barkbox.com

Source: BARK, Inc.

FAQ

Who are the new board members of BARK, Inc.?

The new board members of BARK, Inc. are Paulette Dodson and Michele Meyer.

What experience do Paulette Dodson and Michele Meyer bring to BARK?

Paulette Dodson has extensive legal and corporate governance experience, while Michele Meyer has significant experience in consumer goods marketing and operations.

What impact might the new board members have on BARK's growth strategy?

Their combined expertise is expected to positively influence BARK's marketing, operational strategies, and long-term growth initiatives.

What companies were Paulette Dodson and Michele Meyer previously associated with?

Paulette Dodson was formerly with Alight, PetSmart, and Sara Lee, while Michele Meyer held senior positions at General Mills.

How might these board changes affect BARK's stock performance?

While board changes can lead to strategic shifts, positive impacts from their experience may enhance shareholder value in the long term.

BARK, Inc.

NYSE:BARK

BARK Rankings

BARK Latest News

BARK Stock Data

342.81M
122.80M
24.84%
41.42%
7.26%
Specialty Retail
Retail-retail Stores, Nec
Link
United States of America
NEW YORK