Hibbett Sports names Mike Longo CEO

By

Robin Driver

Published
Dec 17, 2019

Birmingham, Alabama-based sportswear retailer Hibbett Sports, Inc. announced on Monday that Mike Longo, CEO of its recently acquired City Gear brand, will be taking over as president and CEO of the company effective immediately.

 
In his new role, Longo succeeds Jeff Rosenthal and will also take his place on the company’s board of directors. Having first joined Hibbett in 1998 and served as the company’s president and CEO since 2010, Rosenthal announced his departure in March of this year.

Longo has been working alongside Hibbett’s management team since the end of 2018, when City Gear was acquired by the sports retail group. He has held the role of CEO at City Gear since 2006 and played an important role in overseeing its integration into Hibbett following the acquisition.

Prior to this, the executive, who holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the United States Military Academy and an MBA in business from Harvard Business School, spent more than 13 years at AutoZone, where he occupied positions of increasing levels of importance, ultimately becoming executive vice president.
 
Longo has also been a board member at Exide Technologies since 2014, and at Heniff Transportation Systems since 2017.
 
“Given Mike’s extensive retail industry and leadership experience, we believe he is uniquely qualified to help strengthen Hibbett’s leadership position in both the customer experience and the active footwear and apparel industry,” said Anthony Crudele, chairman of the Hibbett board, in a release. “His leadership skills, strategic acumen, dedication and integrity will be invaluable as we apply a laser focus to the rapidly changing retail marketplace.”
 
In the third quarter ended November 2, 2019, Hibbett reported net income of $2.3 million on revenues of $275.5 million. The company currently operates some 1,100 stores under its Hibbett Sports and City Gear banners.