Build-A-Bear Workshop Announces Chief Executive Officer Succession

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar. 12, 2026-- The Board of Directors of Build-A-Bear Workshop announced today that as part of a multi-year planned succession process, longtime Build-A-Bear President and CEO Sharon Price John intends to retire from her role effective June 11, 2026, the date of the Company’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting. In a unanimous vote, the Board appointed the Company’s tenured Chief Operations and Experience Officer Chris Hurt to succeed Price John as Chief Executive Officer, who will transition her responsibilities to Hurt during this period. The Board also appointed Hurt to the Board of Directors effective upon assuming the CEO role, and Price John will remain on the Board and help to ensure a smooth transition.

“Chris has clearly demonstrated his knowledge, skill, leadership and passion over the last ten years, and in turn, has generated tremendous value for Build-A-Bear and its stakeholders. He also has a remarkable ability to connect with the organization in a way that not only creates a strong culture but drives people toward success, making him the ideal candidate,” said Craig Leavitt, Chairman of Build-A-Bear Workshop’s Board of Directors. “Chris’s appointment concludes a thorough and extensive succession planning process in which we partnered with a best-in-class firm to aid in the assessment and exploratory search. His outstanding record of business achievement, strategic initiative, exceptional knowledge and trust of the organization, as well as his dedication to the continued success and expansion of the company, served as proof points supporting the Board’s confidence that he is uniquely prepared to drive the corporation forward in a manner that is designed to continue creating long-term shareholder value.”

During his decade-long tenure at the beloved global experiential brand and retail company, Hurt has played an invaluable part in both the organization’s multi-year turnaround as well as development and execution of the company’s strategy that has driven the current positive results including today’s announcement of its 5th consecutive record year for fiscal 2025. While Hurt’s comprehensive areas of oversight have included Real Estate, International, Logistics, and more recently, Merchandising, Marketing and Licensing, he was originally hired and spent the majority of his tenure leading the Company’s global retail organization, representing its largest revenue generating business unit overseeing over 4,000 employees. Not only did Hurt play a critical role driving initiatives that returned the store fleet to profitability, posting significant expansion in store contribution margin, he is also the architect of the recent successful global expansion of Build-A-Bear, leveraging a unique capital light partner-operated model to efficiently introduce the brand to more fans around the world.

“Chris has proven himself as a great leader and, given his success overseeing multiple areas at the company, has had the outstanding and diverse experience to prepare him to be our next CEO,” said Price John. “He has been an incredible partner over the last ten years and brings a consumer-centric, brand-building, data-driven approach to everything he touches. As an instrumental contributor to the current success of the company, Chris understands and simultaneously embraces our heart-felt culture combined with both a drive and ability to continue to move the organization to even greater heights. I look forward to continuing to serve on the Board and as an advisor to Chris in his new role.”

Since 2013, Price John and her leadership team have overseen a financial turnaround to return to profitability and spearheaded a strategic transformation to leverage the power of the brand to expand the business across a number of initiatives including extending the addressable market and the global footprint. This was in conjunction with successfully guiding the organization through periods of significant external disruption, including COVID, while building a team, improving the corporate infrastructure, and executing an on-going digital transformation to position the company to scale at a more rapid pace while driving profitable growth.

“I would like to express my appreciation to the Board for entrusting me with this opportunity to continue to expand on our successful strategy as the next CEO of Build-A-Bear, a company that means so much to me,” said Hurt. “During my time at Build-A-Bear I have learned and intend to continue to honor that our real power comes from our associates and the memorable moments we create for guests of all ages around the world each day through our amazing in-store experiences.”

“I would also like to personally thank Sharon for her friendship, on-going counsel and inarguable positive impact on this company while acknowledging our founder Maxine Clark for her support and legendary work as a pioneer in experiential retail,” concluded Hurt.

“On behalf of the entire Board, we would also like to extend our appreciation to Sharon,” continued Leavitt. “Over nearly thirteen years after taking over from the founder, Sharon has led Build-A-Bear with heart while identifying and driving toward a powerful vision for the company designed to leverage and monetize the enormous equity of this iconic brand, which has delivered exceptional results and shareholder return.”

SOURCE Build‑A‑Bear Workshop, Inc.

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