Darcy Davenport, the President and CEO of BellRing Brands, is set to depart from the U.S. sports nutrition company. This announcement coincided with the release of the company’s first-quarter results for its 2026 financial year.
Davenport will transition out of her role by the end of September, or when a successor is appointed, BellRing Brands stated on February 3. She will continue to serve as CEO and remain on the board during the transition period, taking on an advisory role post-departure. The company has initiated the search for a new CEO.
Rob Vitale, the chairman of BellRing Brands, remarked, “Under Darcy’s leadership, BellRing has built a portfolio of category-leading products, expanded key customer relationships, and laid a strong foundation for long-term growth. We appreciate her continued leadership through this transition and look forward to collaborating with her in an advisory capacity to further enhance our strategic direction.”
Davenport stepped into the CEO role in 2019 after an eight-year tenure at Premier Nutrition, which was acquired by Post Holdings in 2014 as part of its Active Nutrition division. In 2019, Post Holdings spun off the unit, renaming it BellRing Brands.
The outgoing CEO emphasized, “As the board conducts its search, I remain focused on achieving our fiscal 2026 objectives and advancing our strategic priorities. The foundation of BellRing is strong, and I look forward to assisting the Board and the Company’s new CEO in navigating its next chapter of growth.”
In the three months ending December 31, BellRing Brands reported a 1% increase in net sales, reaching $537.3 million. However, operating profit plummeted nearly 32% to $78.5 million, primarily due to diminished gross margins. Additionally, adjusted EBITDA decreased by almost 30% to $90.3 million.
The company’s first-quarter report also revealed a slight narrowing of its guidance for earnings and sales. For the fiscal year 2026, BellRing now anticipates net sales between $2.41 billion and $2.46 billion, along with an estimated net sales growth rate of 4-6%. Previously, expectations were set at $2.41 billion to $2.49 billion in net sales and a growth rate of 4-8%. Furthermore, adjusted EBITDA is now projected to reach up to $440 million, down from an earlier forecast of $425 million to $455 million.
