Barnes & Noble Education Strengthens Leadership Team with the Appointment of Christopher Neumann as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary and Gary Luster as Chief Accounting Officer
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) has announced two key leadership appointments effective March 3, 2025. Christopher Neumann joins as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary from Six Flags, where he led legal and corporate governance functions and managed the company's $8 billion merger with Cedar Fair. Previously, he served at Kaplan as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel.
Gary Luster has been appointed as Chief Accounting Officer, bringing extensive experience from TerrAscend, Capri Holdings, Tiffany & Co., and Novartis's former consumer health division. Both executives will focus on strengthening BNED's operational efficiency and business strategy.
CEO Jonathan Shar emphasized that these appointments will enhance the company's leadership capabilities, optimize processes, mitigate risk, and align strategies with industry best practices to drive long-term growth and shareholder value.
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) ha annunciato due importanti nomine dirigenziali che entreranno in vigore il 3 marzo 2025. Christopher Neumann si unisce come Consigliere Generale e Segretario Aziendale da Six Flags, dove ha guidato le funzioni legali e di governance aziendale e gestito la fusione da 8 miliardi di dollari con Cedar Fair. In precedenza, ha lavorato presso Kaplan come Vice Presidente e Vice Consigliere Generale.
Gary Luster è stato nominato Chief Accounting Officer, portando con sé una vasta esperienza da TerrAscend, Capri Holdings, Tiffany & Co. e dalla precedente divisione salute dei consumatori di Novartis. Entrambi i dirigenti si concentreranno sul rafforzamento dell'efficienza operativa e della strategia aziendale di BNED.
Il CEO Jonathan Shar ha sottolineato che queste nomine miglioreranno le capacità di leadership dell'azienda, ottimizzeranno i processi, mitigheranno i rischi e allineeranno le strategie alle migliori pratiche del settore per guidare la crescita a lungo termine e il valore per gli azionisti.
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) ha anunciado dos nombramientos clave en el liderazgo que entrarán en vigor el 3 de marzo de 2025. Christopher Neumann se une como Consejero General y Secretario Corporativo desde Six Flags, donde lideró las funciones legales y de gobernanza corporativa y gestionó la fusión de 8 mil millones de dólares con Cedar Fair. Anteriormente, se desempeñó en Kaplan como Vicepresidente y Consejero General Adjunto.
Gary Luster ha sido nombrado Director de Contabilidad, aportando una amplia experiencia de TerrAscend, Capri Holdings, Tiffany & Co. y la antigua división de salud del consumidor de Novartis. Ambos ejecutivos se centrarán en fortalecer la eficiencia operativa y la estrategia comercial de BNED.
El CEO Jonathan Shar enfatizó que estos nombramientos mejorarán las capacidades de liderazgo de la empresa, optimizarán los procesos, mitigarán riesgos y alinearán las estrategias con las mejores prácticas de la industria para impulsar el crecimiento a largo plazo y el valor para los accionistas.
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED)는 2025년 3월 3일부로 두 명의 주요 리더십 임명을 발표했습니다. 크리스토퍼 노이만은 Six Flags에서 법률 및 기업 거버넌스 기능을 이끌고 80억 달러 규모의 Cedar Fair와의 합병을 관리한 후, 총괄 법률 고문 및 기업 비서로 합류합니다. 이전에는 Kaplan에서 부사장 및 부총괄 법률 고문으로 재직했습니다.
게리 러스터는 회계 담당 최고 책임자로 임명되어 TerrAscend, Capri Holdings, Tiffany & Co. 및 Novartis의 이전 소비자 건강 부문에서 쌓은 광범위한 경험을 가져옵니다. 두 임원은 BNED의 운영 효율성과 비즈니스 전략 강화에 집중할 것입니다.
CEO 조나단 샤르는 이러한 임명이 회사의 리더십 능력을 향상시키고, 프로세스를 최적화하며, 위험을 완화하고, 산업의 모범 사례와 전략을 일치시켜 장기적인 성장과 주주 가치를 추진할 것이라고 강조했습니다.
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) a annoncé deux nominations clés au sein de la direction, effectives à partir du 3 mars 2025. Christopher Neumann rejoint en tant que Conseiller Général et Secrétaire d'Entreprise en provenance de Six Flags, où il a dirigé les fonctions juridiques et de gouvernance d'entreprise et géré la fusion de 8 milliards de dollars avec Cedar Fair. Auparavant, il a été Vice-Président et Conseiller Général Adjoint chez Kaplan.
Gary Luster a été nommé Directeur Comptable, apportant une vaste expérience de TerrAscend, Capri Holdings, Tiffany & Co. et l'ancienne division santé des consommateurs de Novartis. Les deux dirigeants se concentreront sur le renforcement de l'efficacité opérationnelle et de la stratégie commerciale de BNED.
Le PDG Jonathan Shar a souligné que ces nominations amélioreront les capacités de leadership de l'entreprise, optimiseront les processus, atténueront les risques et aligneront les stratégies sur les meilleures pratiques de l'industrie pour favoriser la croissance à long terme et la valeur pour les actionnaires.
Barnes & Noble Education (NYSE: BNED) hat zwei wichtige Führungspositionen bekannt gegeben, die am 3. März 2025 in Kraft treten. Christopher Neumann kommt als General Counsel und Corporate Secretary von Six Flags, wo er die rechtlichen und corporate Governance-Funktionen leitete und die Fusion des Unternehmens im Wert von 8 Milliarden Dollar mit Cedar Fair managte. Zuvor war er bei Kaplan als Vizepräsident und stellvertretender General Counsel tätig.
Gary Luster wurde zum Chief Accounting Officer ernannt und bringt umfassende Erfahrungen von TerrAscend, Capri Holdings, Tiffany & Co. und der ehemaligen Verbrauchergesundheitsabteilung von Novartis mit. Beide Führungskräfte werden sich darauf konzentrieren, die operative Effizienz und die Geschäftsstrategie von BNED zu stärken.
CEO Jonathan Shar betonte, dass diese Ernennungen die Führungsfähigkeiten des Unternehmens verbessern, Prozesse optimieren, Risiken mindern und Strategien mit den besten Praktiken der Branche in Einklang bringen werden, um langfristiges Wachstum und Shareholder Value voranzutreiben.
- Strategic leadership enhancement with experienced executives
- New General Counsel brings major M&A experience ($8B Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger)
- New CAO brings multi-location retail and financial transformation expertise
- Focus on operational improvements and risk management
- None.
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., March 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), a leading solutions provider for the education industry, today announced the appointment of Christopher Neumann as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary and Gary Luster as Chief Accounting Officer, effective March 3, 2025.
Christopher Neumann – General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Mr. Neumann joins BNED from Six Flags — a NYSE listed public company that operates an extensive portfolio of large-scale amusement and water parks across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — where he served as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary and led the legal and corporate governance functions in a fast-moving and highly dynamic industry, including through Six Flags’
Mr. Neumann’s expertise in driving strategic initiatives and enterprise-wide growth at complex public and private companies will be instrumental in strengthening BNED’s legal framework, business strategy, governance, and risk management.
Mr. Neumann holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Vermont and earned his JD from St. John’s University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and served on the St. John’s Law Review.
Gary Luster – Chief Accounting Officer
Mr. Luster joins BNED with an extensive background in accounting and finance, having successfully led enterprise-wide financial transformations, optimized reporting structures, and implemented robust financial controls to support business growth. His experience across large-scale, multi-location retailers such as TerrAscend, Capri Holdings (which owns Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo), Tiffany & Co., and the former consumer health division of Novartis gives him unique insights into navigating complex financial operations, ensuring compliance, and driving strategic decision-making. Mr. Luster’s leadership and financial expertise will be key in elevating BNED’s business strategy, improving operational efficiencies, and ensuring long-term fiscal resilience.
Mr. Luster holds both a BA and MBA from Rutgers University and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
"Chris and Gary significantly enhance the depth and capabilities of BNED’s leadership team as we continue to drive operational improvements across our business,” said Jonathan Shar, Chief Executive Officer, BNED. “Their extensive experience and proven track records in their respective fields will be instrumental in strengthening the company. Their leadership will play a crucial role in optimizing our processes, mitigating risk, and aligning our strategies with industry best practices — which will position BNED for long-term growth and enhanced shareholder value.”
ABOUT BARNES & NOBLE EDUCATION, INC.
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) is a leading solutions provider for the education industry, driving affordability, access, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide and ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Through its family of brands, BNED offers campus retail services, academic solutions, wholesale capabilities, and more. BNED is a company serving all who work to elevate their lives through education, supporting students, faculty, and institutions as they make tomorrow a better and smarter world. For more information, visit www.bned.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and information relating to us and our business that are based on the beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to our management. When used in this communication, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “forecasts,” “projections,” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management, identify forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, which include but are not limited to the anticipated benefits of the appointment of Christopher Neumann as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary and Gary Luster as Chief Accounting Officer. Such statements reflect our current views with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, but not limited to: the ability to successfully integrate new members of our leadership team; our ability to retain members of our leadership team and other key employees; as well as other risks related to the growth of our business. For a more detailed discussion of these factors, and other factors that could cause actual results to vary materially, interested parties should review the risk factors listed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 27, 2024 as filed with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements made by us in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and we do not intend to update these forward-looking statements after the date of this press release, except as required by law.
Media Contact:
Judith Buckingham
Corporate Communications
Barnes & Noble Education
jbuckingham@bned.com
FAQ
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