New appointments and expanded roles position company for sustained performanceST. LOUIS, Feb. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Advantage Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: ADV), a leading provider of business solutions to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, today announced changes to its executive leadership team designed to accelerate its growth strategy. Key leadership changes include: Bob Hardester appointed Chief Information Officer (effective March 2, 2026)Jo O’Hazo promoted to Deputy CIO & Chief Data Officer ...

Core Insights - SPAR Group has appointed Jean Richer as the head of North American sales and marketing, reporting directly to CEO William Linnane [1][4] - Richer has over 25 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods and retail services sectors, previously holding senior positions at notable companies [2] - The company has seen recent share acquisitions by its executive leadership team, indicating a commitment to aligning leadership interests with shareholders [2][3][5] Leadership Changes - Jean Richer will oversee sales and marketing operations across the US and Canada, focusing on merchandising and consumer packaged goods clients [1] - CEO William Linnane expressed confidence in Richer's ability to drive value creation in the evolving industry landscape [4] Shareholder Engagement - CFO Steve Hennen purchased 55,000 shares, and CTO Josh Jewett acquired 125,000 shares, reflecting increased personal investment in the company [2] - CEO Linnane previously bought 173,000 shares, bringing his total to 190,909 shares, showcasing a trend of leadership increasing their ownership stakes [3]

Company Changes - Saks Global announced that Richard Baker has taken over as CEO, succeeding Marc Metrick who stepped down after nearly 30 years with the company [2] - Baker will also continue in his role as executive chairman and will focus on transforming the struggling department store [3] Leadership Experience - Marc Metrick joined Saks in 1995 and held various roles, eventually leading Saks Fifth Avenue since 2015 [2] - Jean Richer has been promoted to head of North American sales and marketing at Spar Group, bringing over 25 years of experience in CPG and retail services [8]

Core Insights - Advantage Solutions Inc. reported a revenue decline of 2.6% year-over-year, totaling $915 million for Q3 2025, while net income improved to $21 million from a net loss of $37 million in the previous year [2][6] - The company generated $98 million in adjusted unlevered free cash flow and ended the quarter with a strong cash position of $201 million [1][6] - The performance in Experiential Services was strong, driven by high demand and execution, while Branded Services faced challenges due to macroeconomic conditions [1][6] Financial Performance - Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2025, were $915 million, down from $939 million in the same period last year, representing a decrease of $24.3 million [2][6] - Net income for the quarter was $20.6 million, a significant improvement compared to a net loss of $37.3 million in Q3 2024 [2][6] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $99.6 million, down 1.4% from $100.9 million in the prior year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 10.9% [2][6][4] Operational Highlights - The company reaffirmed its revenue guidance but modestly lowered its Adjusted EBITDA outlook due to the impact of the Acxion divestiture and the challenging macro environment [1][4] - The Experiential Services segment showed strong performance with over 90% execution, while Branded Services continued to face headwinds [6][4] - The company is undergoing an IT transformation that is expected to improve operational efficiency [4] Cash Flow and Outlook - Advantage Solutions reported an increase in cash flow of $98 million sequentially, attributed to working capital improvements and lower restructuring costs [6] - The fiscal year 2025 outlook indicates a revenue decline of low-single digits to flat, with Adjusted EBITDA expected to decrease in mid-single digits [8]

Core Insights - Advantage Solutions Inc. will release its third-quarter financial results on November 6, 2025, at 7 a.m. EDT, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. EDT [1] - The conference call will be accessible via specific phone numbers for U.S. and international callers, with a replay available for a limited time [2][3] Company Overview - Advantage Solutions is a leading omnichannel retail solutions agency in North America, positioned at the intersection of consumer-packaged goods brands and retailers [4] - The company utilizes data and technology-powered services to provide insights and expertise, helping brands and retailers generate demand and enhance consumer access to products [4] - Advantage Solutions operates throughout North America and has strategic investments in select international markets [4]

Core Insights - Instacart and Advantage Solutions have formed a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing in-store execution for consumer packaged goods (CPGs) companies [3][4] - The collaboration combines Instacart's technology and shopper community with Advantage's retail execution services to provide real-time insights and actionable data [4][5] Group 1: Partnership Overview - The partnership will leverage Instacart's in-store audit capabilities and Advantage's retail execution services to help CPGs quickly identify and address gaps in product availability, pricing, and display execution [4][5] - Instacart's community of approximately 600,000 shoppers will conduct in-store audits, generating insights that trigger alerts for Advantage's field teams to act on high-priority issues [4][5] Group 2: Benefits to CPGs - The integrated approach offers CPGs enhanced visibility into in-store conditions, enabling them to improve compliance, tackle out-of-stock issues, and boost overall performance [5][6] - The partnership aims to create new earning opportunities for Instacart shoppers while providing CPGs with the tools needed to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences [5][6] Group 3: Future Plans - A successful pilot of the partnership has been launched, with plans for expansion in 2026 [6]

Group 1 - Advantage Solutions Inc has appointed Jeff Harsh as the new Chief Operating Officer of its Branded Services business segment, effective August 25, 2025 [1][2] - Harsh brings 28 years of experience from The Hershey Company, where he managed multi-billion-dollar businesses and was recognized for initiatives in segmentation, pricing, and route-to-market transformation [2][3] - His expertise in sales planning, omnichannel integration, and operational excellence will be crucial for enhancing the value provided to clients and integrating market-leading technology [3][4] Group 2 - Dean General will transition to a newly established role as Chief Industry Development Officer while remaining on the executive leadership team, focusing on client and retailer engagement strategy [5][6] - The leadership changes aim to enhance the company's ability to deliver value, accelerate innovation, and support clients' evolving needs [6] - Advantage Solutions is positioned as a leading omnichannel retail solutions agency in North America, leveraging data and technology to help brands and retailers generate demand [7]

Core Insights - Advantage Solutions Inc. reported a slight increase in revenues for Q2 2025, totaling $874 million, compared to $873 million in Q2 2024, while significantly reducing its net loss from $113 million to $30 million, marking a 73.1% improvement [3][7][24] - The company is advancing its transformation initiatives to enhance AI capabilities and improve business insights, expecting stronger financial performance and cash generation in the second half of the year [1][5] - Advantage Solutions reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, indicating confidence in its operational execution and market conditions [1][5] Financial Performance - Total revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2025, were $1.695 billion, down 2.3% from $1.735 billion in the same period of 2024 [3][7] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 2025 was $86 million, a decline of 3.9% from $89.9 million in Q2 2024, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 9.9% [3][7][24] - The company maintained a strong balance sheet with $103 million in cash and received an additional $23 million related to deferred purchase price installments [7] Operational Highlights - The company resolved staffing shortages from Q1, leading to improved execution and performance in Q2 [5][7] - Strategic investments in IT and capabilities are ongoing to enhance services for clients [7] - The company expects adjusted unlevered free cash flow conversion to exceed 50% of adjusted EBITDA for 2025 [8] 2025 Guidance - The revenue outlook for 2025 is expected to be flat to low single digits down, with adjusted EBITDA also projected to decline in a similar range [8] - Net interest expense is anticipated to be between $140 million and $150 million, with capital expenditures projected at $50 million to $60 million [8]

Group 1 - Advantage Solutions Inc. will participate in the Canaccord Genuity 45th Annual Growth Conference in Boston on August 12, 2025, with a live fireside chat featuring CEO Dave Peacock [1] - The webcast of the event will be available on the Advantage Solutions website [1] - For further inquiries, contact Canaccord Genuity representatives [1] Group 2 - Advantage Solutions is the leading omnichannel retail solutions agency in North America, positioned at the intersection of consumer-packaged goods brands and retailers [2] - The company utilizes data- and technology-powered services to help brands and retailers generate demand and distribute products effectively [2] - Advantage Solutions offers a range of services including in-store and online experiences, assortment optimization, and e-commerce acceleration [2] - The company has a presence throughout North America and strategic investments in select international markets [2]

Company Overview - Advantage Solutions Inc. is the leading omnichannel retail solutions agency in North America, positioned at the intersection of consumer-packaged goods brands and retailers [4] - The company utilizes data- and technology-powered services to provide insights, expertise, and scale to help brands and retailers generate demand and deliver products to consumers [4] - Advantage Solutions offers services that include optimizing assortment and merchandising, enhancing e-commerce and digital capabilities, and creating meaningful in-store and online experiences [4] Upcoming Financial Results - Advantage Solutions will release its financial results for the second quarter on August 7, 2025, at 7 a.m. EDT [1] - A conference call will follow at 8:30 a.m. EDT on the same day to discuss the results [1] Conference Call Details - The conference call can be accessed by U.S. callers at 1-800-715-9871 and international callers at 1-646-307-1963, with a conference ID of 5720569 [2] - A replay of the call will be available approximately three hours after it concludes, accessible at 1-800-770-2030 for U.S. callers and 1-609-800-9909 for international callers, with playback ID 5720569 [2] - The replay will be available until August 14, 2025 [2] Investor Relations - Interested parties can listen to a simultaneous conference call webcast by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Advantage Solutions website [3] - The online replay will be available for a limited time shortly after the call [3]