Build-A-Bear Workshop announced a leadership transition as longtime President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon Price John plans to retire from the role effective June 11, 2026, following the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting. The company’s board of directors has appointed Chris Hurt, currently Chief Operations and Experience Officer, to succeed Price John as chief executive officer as part of a multi-year succession planning process.
Hurt will assume the CEO role upon Price John’s retirement and will also join the company’s board of directors at that time. Price John will remain on the board to support a smooth leadership transition.
Hurt joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in 2015 and has held several leadership roles at the company, including chief operations officer and, most recently, chief operations and experience officer. During his tenure, he has overseen a broad range of operational areas, including real estate, international expansion, logistics, merchandising, marketing, and licensing. Much of his earlier leadership focused on managing the company’s global retail operations, the organization’s largest revenue-generating business unit with more than 4,000 employees.
The company credited Hurt with playing a key role in Build-A-Bear’s multi-year turnaround and strategic transformation. His work helped restore profitability to the store fleet, expanded contribution margins, and supported the company’s global growth strategy through a partner-operated model that efficiently introduced the brand to new markets.
Price John has led Build-A-Bear since 2013, guiding the company through a financial turnaround and strategic evolution that expanded the brand’s global reach and diversified its business initiatives. During her tenure, the company also navigated periods of significant external disruption, including the COVID-19 pandemic, while investing in digital transformation and infrastructure improvements aimed at supporting scalable growth.
The succession follows a multi-year process led by the board of directors, which evaluated internal and external candidates and worked with a global consulting and search firm to prepare for the leadership transition. As part of the process, Hurt participated in extensive preparation and mentorship from Price John as well as executive coaching and engagement with the board.
Founded in 1997, Build-A-Bear is a global retailtainment brand known for its interactive experience where guests create personalized plush toys through stuffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming ceremonies. The company operates more than 650 company-owned, partner-operated, and franchise locations across more than 30 countries and also sells products through its digital platform.
Build-A-Bear reported $529.8 million in total revenue for fiscal 2025, marking the company’s fifth consecutive year of record results.
KEY QUOTES
“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. 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.”
Craig Leavitt — Chairman, Board of Directors, Build-A-Bear Workshop
“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. 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.”
Sharon Price John — President And Chief Executive Officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop
“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. 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.”
Chris Hurt — Incoming Chief Executive Officer, Build-A-Bear Workshop
If you want, I can also show you how to quickly extract OCAs like this from Business Wire in seconds, which can speed up your p2 workflow.
