Peloton Interactive Inc.
plans to replace its chief executive, cut costs and overhaul its board after a slowdown in demand caused the once-hot bike maker’s value to plummet.
Peloton co-founder
John Foley,
who has led the company for its entire 10-year existence, is stepping down as CEO and will become executive chairman, the company told The Wall Street Journal.
Barry McCarthy,
the former chief financial officer of
and
Netflix Inc.,
will become CEO and president and join Peloton’s board.
The New York company will also cut roughly 2,800 jobs, affecting 20% of its corporate positions, to help cope with the drop-off in demand and widening losses. The cuts won’t affect Peloton’s instructor roster or content.
A little over two weeks ago, activist investor Blackwells Capital LLC called for Peloton to fire Mr. Foley and explore a sale of the company, which the Journal has reported is attracting potential suitors including Amazon.com Inc.
Blackwells reiterated its call Tuesday, saying Mr. Foley should leave the company entirely rather than become executive chairman. The company also released a 65-page presentation in which it estimated a sale could value Peloton above $65 a share. Peloton shares closed Monday at $29.75.
“We are open to exploring any opportunity that could create value for Peloton shareholders,” Mr. Foley said in an interview prior to Blackwells’s Tuesday release. Mr. Foley, a former Barnes & Noble Inc. executive who co-founded Peloton 10 years ago last month, declined to comment further.
The naming of a new CEO could indicate that Peloton sees an independent future for itself, or at least doesn’t want to sell at the current depressed share price. Any deal would likely require Mr. Foley’s support, as he and other insiders have shares that gave them control of over 80% of Peloton’s voting power as of Sept. 30, according to a securities filing.
Former Spotify CFO Barry McCarthy said his strength is a deep understanding of content-driven subscription models.
Photo:
Michael Nagle/Bloomberg News
Once a pandemic darling as homebound customers ordered its exercise equipment and streamed its virtual classes and its valuation soared, Peloton’s fortunes have recently…
Read More: Peloton CEO John Foley to Step Down, Firm to Cut 2,800 Jobs
