CFO of Sporting Goods Retailer Hibbett Announces Retirement

The chief financial officer of Hibbett Sports, a sporting goods retailer, recently announced that he plans to retire on June 1, and the company has already begun searching for his replacement, according to a release.

Gary A. Smith, who holds the titles of senior vice president and CFO, joined the company in April 2001 when it had 282 stores in 19 states. Today, however, there are more than 800 Hibbett stores in in 26 states, the release noted.

"On behalf of the entire organization, we thank Gary for his contributions and commitment to Hibbett," said Jeff Rosenthal, the company's president and chief executive officer. "Gary has been a key contributor to our growth and success over the past 12 years. He has built an exceptional financial organization at Hibbett, and his successor will inherit a very capable team."

The Birmingham News reports Smith held various senior financial positions with Birmingham, Alabama-based Parisian for the majority of his career prior to joining Hibbett.

In the release, the company noted the goal of its executive search was "ensuring a smooth and orderly transition" for the new chief financial officer.