Following a planned leadership transition, Aaron Easterly, the CEO of Rover, will be stepping down from his role after 14 years at the helm. Brent Turner, who has been with the company for several years and currently serves as the president, will be taking over as CEO effective July 1. This transition has been in the works for some time and was not influenced by Rover’s recent private equity deal with Blackstone.
Aaron Easterly will be transitioning to a new role as the executive chair of the board, allowing him to step away from day-to-day operations. Brent Turner, who has been instrumental in Rover’s growth as COO and president, expressed his excitement about leading the company into its next phase of development.
Turner, a seasoned tech executive in Seattle with experience at companies like Razorfish, aQuantive, and Microsoft, was recruited by Easterly in 2014. Easterly emphasized the importance of having the right people in key roles at different stages of the company’s growth, highlighting his confidence in Turner’s abilities.
Rover, known as the world’s largest network of pet sitters and dog walkers, has expanded its operations to 17 countries and has seen significant growth in recent years. With plans to modernize other areas of the pet industry such as training and daycare, the company is well-positioned for continued success under Turner’s leadership.
Greg Gottesman, a Seattle venture capitalist and one of the co-founders of Rover, praised Turner as a talented leader who is capable of taking the company to new heights. He commended Easterly for his vision and dedication to Rover’s mission of making pet ownership more accessible to everyone.
As Easterly reflects on his time leading Rover through various challenges and milestones, he remains optimistic about the future of the pet industry. With a focus on innovation and customer experience, Rover is poised for continued growth and success under Turner’s leadership.
