Boot Barn CEO Leaves for Top Job at Ross Stores
Boot Barn's current president and CEO Jim Conroy plans to step down effective Nov. 22. Conroy, 54, is leaving the retailer to become CEO of Ross Stores, effective Feb. 2, 2025. He succeeds Barbara Rentler, who has served as CEO at the off-price retailer for the last 10 years. Conroy has served as president and CEO of Boot Barn since 2012.
John Hazen, Boot Barn's current chief digital officer, will assume the role of interim CEO, effective Nov. 22. Hazen joined the company in 2018 with responsibility for e-commerce, marketing, and the customer experience.
Total Retail's Take: According to Peter Starrett, Boot Barn's current chairman of the board of directors, who will assume the role of executive chairman, effective Nov. 22, Hazen is "very highly regarded within the Boot Barn organization and has a diverse background that includes brand building, digital, and store roles,” adding that “he has a strong track record of growing sales and profits both at Boot Barn and prior to joining the company." That said, Boot Barn is planning to conduct an internal and external search before making a permanent decision on its next CEO. Hazen will have the first opportunity to prove himself and earn the CEO role on a permanent basis.
Conroy will be joining the fast-growing off-price retail chain Ross Stores, which is in store expansion mode. This is similar to the business that Conroy was leading at Boot Barn, which had as of the beginning of 2024 grown its net sales over $100 million every year for 11 years straight. In addition to growing top-line sales, Boot Barn posted a 34 percent gain in profitability over the past decade. The success that he enjoyed as Boot Barn's leader will be expected to continue as he moves to Ross Stores.
