Leslie's, Inc. 8-K

What Happened Leslie’s, Inc. announced that its Board increased from eight to nine members and appointed John Hartmann as a director, effective January 7, 2026. Mr. Hartmann was designated a Class III director and will stand for election at Leslie’s 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. He has not yet been assigned to any Board committees.

Key Details

• Appointment effective: January 7, 2026; Board size increased from 8 to 9.
• Director class & election: Designated Class III; will stand for election at 2026 Annual Meeting.
• Compensation: Will receive non-employee director pay consistent with the company’s existing policies (as described in Leslie’s 2025 Definitive Proxy Statement filed Jan 23, 2025).
• Background: ~25 years in retail leadership; recent roles include board member at Boyd Group Services and CEO of Ascend Wellness Holdings (2023–2024); COO of Bed Bath & Beyond (2020–2022); President & CEO of True Value Company (2013–2020). Education: J.D., Syracuse University; B.S., Rochester Institute of Technology.
• Governance note: No arrangements or understandings led to his selection and no reportable related-party transactions under Item 404(a).

Why It Matters A new director with deep retail and turnaround experience could influence Leslie’s strategic and operational oversight as the company seeks growth and improved performance. For investors, the appointment may signal the Board’s focus on retail turnaround expertise and governance strengthening ahead of the 2026 shareholder election.