Academy Sports + Outdoors Names Michelle Gloeckler EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer and President of Academy International Limited
KATY, TX (August 3, 2016) – Academy, Ltd. d/b/a Academy Sports + Outdoors
(“Academy”), a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer, named Michelle J. Gloeckler
Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer and President of Academy International
Limited, its global sourcing entity, effective August 29, 2016.
Michelle, 50, joins Academy after seven years with Walmart U.S. where she most recently served
as EVP, Consumables, Health & Wellness. At Walmart, she led the merchandising strategies in
areas including beauty and personal care, pets, household paper and chemicals, baby, over-thecounter, pharmacy and optical. She also led U.S. manufacturing and supplier training functions
for the $250 billion initiative. During her time there, she also held roles including SVP, Home &
U.S. Manufacturing Lead, SVP, Merchandise Execution, and VP Candy & Impulse. Prior to
Walmart, she spent more than 20 years in various executive leadership, sales, marketing and
category development roles at The Hershey Company. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in
Communications & Psychology from the University of Michigan.
“I’m ecstatic to join the Academy Sports + Outdoors team, and I look forward to getting to know
our merchant, planning, sourcing and product development team members, along with our
vendors and manufacturing partners,” says Michelle Gloeckler. “I believe Academy’s everyday
low price approach, community focused stores and the merchandise mix of national and private
brands position it uniquely in the industry for future growth and success."
Michelle has nearly 30 years of experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), big box retail,
merchandising, sourcing, manufacturing, and strategy. In 2015, FORTUNE magazine named
Michelle to its list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. In the same year, she was selected
to lead the President’s Global Council of Women Leaders at Walmart.
“On behalf of our more than 25,000 team members, I am thrilled to welcome Michelle to the team,”
says J.K. Symancyk, Academy Sports + Outdoors President and CEO. “Michelle is an industryrenowned business driver and broad general manager with experience leading transformation
and growth within high-volume, fast-turn, big box retail and CPG companies. Our team will benefit
tremendously from her caliber of leadership as we focus on Academy Sports + Outdoors’ future
growth.
About Academy Sports + Outdoors
Academy Sports + Outdoors is a premier sports, outdoor and lifestyle retailer with a unique
assortment of quality hunting, fishing and camping equipment and gear along with sports and
leisure products, footwear, apparel, patio sets, barbecue grills and much more. The $4.6 billion
company operates over 210 stores throughout Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Tennessee and Texas, where the company is based. The Academy Sports + Outdoors
philosophy is to deliver an unparalleled shopping experience by providing convenience, offering
a broad selection of quality products, delivering exceptional customer service and selling the
right stuff at everyday low prices. For more information about Academy Sports + Outdoors visit
academy.com, facebook.com/academy, twitter.com/academy, pinterest.com/academy,
youtube.com/academy and instagram.com/academy.
Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements," which are not
historical in nature and are identified by the words "intend," "will" or other similar expressions.
These forward-looking statements are dated as of today and are based upon currently available
information and our current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are
subject to significant uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes to differ materially from our
present expectations. We assume no obligation to update these statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this press release.