BASKING RIDGE, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), a leading solutions provider for the education industry, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Jonathan Shar as the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective June 11, 2024. Mr. Shar succeeds Michael P. Huseby, who has resigned as Chief Executive Officer, effective June 11, 2024.
“I am honored to take on the role of CEO and to help lead this important organization. Barnes & Noble Education has consistently excelled in introducing innovative solutions for colleges and universities along with its unparalleled focus on customer service,” said Mr. Shar. “This is a pivotal and exciting time, and I look forward to working with the Board and our talented team to drive Barnes & Noble Education to new heights and to drive value for all stakeholders.”
Mr. Shar added, “I also want to thank Mike Huseby for his many years of guidance and leadership. He has made many important contributions to the Company, our clients, our employees, and to me personally.”
Mr. Huseby commented, “With the closing of the recent milestone equity investment and bank refinancing transactions, Barnes & Noble Education is now on rock-solid financial ground and better positioned than ever to serve its academic partners and customers. I wish Jonathan and the entire BNED team future success.”
“Jonathan brings great experience and passion for the Barnes & Noble Education business,” said William C. Martin, Chairman of BNED. “The opportunity to serve our academic partners and the millions of students who visit our stores each year is boundless. Jonathan is just the leader we need to unlock the future growth and profitability potential of this business.”
Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr. Shar served as President of Barnes & Noble College and Executive Vice President of BNED Retail. In this role, Mr. Shar was responsible for the Company’s retail segment, including overseeing both physical campus bookstores and e-commerce sites nationwide, as well as developing and implementing innovative client-focused solutions that drive value for the higher education market, including new product innovations such as BNED’s equitable access solution, First Day® Complete.
Before joining BNED in 2018, Mr. Shar was Chief Marketing Officer at Akademos, Inc., an e-commerce and digital marketing company providing online bookstore services. He also spent nearly five years as General Manager of NOOK Digital Content at Barnes & Noble, Inc., overseeing business development, product development, and consumer marketing for many of NOOK’s digital content businesses.
Mr. Shar holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tufts University and an MBA from the University of Michigan.
About Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED) is a leading solutions provider for the education industry, driving affordability, access and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide and ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Through its family of brands, BNED offers campus retail services and academic solutions, wholesale capabilities and more. BNED is a company serving all who work to elevate their lives through education, supporting students, faculty and institutions as they make tomorrow a better, more inclusive and smarter world. For more information, visit www.bned.com.
