Build-A-Bear Workshop has completed its planned leadership handoff, naming Chris Hurt chief executive officer effective June 11, 2026, as Sharon Price John steps down after 13 years at the helm and remains on the board.
Hurt has spent more than 11 years at the company and most recently served as chief operations and experience officer. The company said his new role follows a succession plan designed to carry forward its current strategy centered on profitable growth, global operations and guest experience.
The leadership changes did not stop at the top. Voin Todorovic, previously chief financial officer, has also taken on the role of chief administrative officer, adding enterprise-wide administrative oversight to his finance duties. Dave Henderson, formerly chief revenue officer, has been promoted to chief growth officer, with a broader mandate that now includes long-term global growth, revenue diversification and strategic expansion.
The company said the executive reshuffle is meant to align leadership with its priorities of disciplined financial management, operational efficiency and growth across channels and markets.
Build-A-Bear also pointed to the scale of the business it is now handing to the new team: more than 650 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise locations across more than 30 countries, plus buildabear.com. For fiscal 2025, the company reported total revenue of $529.8 million, its fifth straight year of record results. As a result of these announcements, the company's shares have moved -4.93% on the market, and are now trading at a price of $32.2175. If you want to know more, read the company's complete 8-K report here.
