Business leader, identified as Bark, appointed as head of key operations
Bark, the popular dog-centric brand, has announced significant changes in its leadership team as it navigates through financial hurdles.
In a recent move, Michael Black, who joined Bark as the Chief Revenue Officer in 2024, has been promoted to the newly created position of President of Bark's core business. This promotion comes amid continued financial challenges for the company.
Black's commercial instincts, operational discipline, and passion for serving dogs and their people make him the right leader to help take Bark into its next chapter, according to Matt Meeker, co-founder and CEO of Bark.
Prior to joining Bark, Black was the founder and president of consulting firm Paragon International Advisors and the CEO of dog toy company Outward Hound. He also served as a senior buyer for pet accessories at Walmart.
In his expanded role, Black now oversees Bark's core Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) and wholesale segments. He continues to handle his chief revenue officer duties.
The promotion allows Meeker to focus on driving Bark's long-term strategic vision. Meghan Knoll, a former executive, has also been welcomed back to oversee Bark's DTC business.
The news of Black's promotion comes as Bark faces financial headwinds. The company's DTC revenue for the first quarter decreased 16.7% to $89.2 million, and its total revenue declined 11.5% year over year to $102.9 million.
Bark's stock trading has been below $1.00 over a 30-day period, and the company has received a second letter of noncompliance from the New York Stock Exchange in two years. Bark has until January to rectify its noncompliance or face a potential delisting.
Despite these challenges, Bark has shown signs of financial improvement. The company reported its highest gross margin in Direct-to-Consumer history in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, generating recurring revenues in the triple-digit million range through 13 million Direct-to-Consumer orders in 2025.
The efforts to improve the financial situation include migrating all subscribers to the OrderGroove platform and Shopify, which reduces costs, reduces technical complexity, and enables innovative subscription models to improve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Bark also launched its Bark Air travel service for dogs last year, offering a convenient and pet-friendly travel option for dog owners.
As Bark continues to navigate its financial challenges and seeks to improve its operations, the leadership changes and strategic initiatives announced by the company are expected to play a significant role in its future success.
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