J.K. Symancyk joined PetSmart as President and CEO in June 2018 and became a member of the company’s board of directors. J.K. is a consumer retail veteran with more than 25 years of industry experience managing complex retail operations, including his previous role as CEO of Academy Sports + Outdoors. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated his ability to lead companies, driving profitable growth and improving the organizational performance of internal teams at large, multi-channel consumer businesses. Previously, J.K. served as president of Meijer, where he was responsible for leading all aspects of the business. He started his career at Walmart Stores, Inc., where he served in several leadership roles in both Sam’s Club and Wal-Mart, International. J.K. currently serves as Chairman of PetSmart Charities and is a member of the Retail Industry Leaders Board of Directors and the Bath & Body Works Board of Directors.
J.K. graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he still serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Walton College of Business. He and his wife have two children and are pet parents to two dogs: Stella, a Havanese, and Harper, a Great Pyrenees mix.