Bark, known for its BarkBox and Super Chewer subscription boxes, has turned to industry veterans as it fills out its C-suite.
“We are thrilled to elevate our leadership team with the addition of two proven leaders who bring a wealth of experience across the pet, e-commerce, and retail sectors,” Meeker said in a statement.
“Together, we believe these additions will be instrumental in raising awareness of our mission and driving multi-channel, cross-category growth.”
Black, in Meeker’s words, has a track record of “delivering omnichannel growth across the pet sector.” He previously led Outward Hound through a digital transformation and years of growth.
Aside from Outward Hound, Black has experience as a senior buyer of pet accessories at Walmart, and most recently served as the founder and president of Paragon International Advisors, a consulting firm focused on partnering with private equity investors in the pet industry.
In his new role at Bark, Black will lead Bark’s consumables strategy, both for its DTC and retail channels.
Parness on the other hand will oversee the company’s growth in the play category and help the brand expand its reach.
He arrives at Bark with three decades of experience in retail, including the pet sector.
In his role at JustFoodForDogs, Parness helped drive growth across the brand’s direct-to-consumer, e-commerce and owned retail channels.
The new hires come as Bark faces financial challenges.
In its most recent quarter, Bark reported Q3 net revenue fell about 7% year over year to $125.1 million, with DTC revenue falling 7.6% and wholesale revenue falling 0.6%.
The company in November also received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange because it had fallen out of compliance with the continued listing requirements.
However, in March the retailer said it had regained compliance.