WeightWatchers, a well-known weight loss company based in New York, recently underwent a leadership change. WW International announced the departure of CEO Sima Sistani effective immediately, without disclosing specific reasons for the sudden decision. Tara Comonte, a board member at WeightWatchers and former executive at Shake Shack, assumed the role of interim chief executive during this transition period.
The company revealed that Comonte’s appointment comes at a time when WeightWatchers is actively working on enhancing its operational and financial performance. WeightWatchers, with a history spanning over 60 years, has faced challenges reflected in declining profits and expenses related to restructuring efforts. The company’s stock has also experienced a significant decrease, with WW shares plummeting over 90% in the last year to trade at around 83 cents on Friday.
Sistani, who took on the CEO position at WeightWatchers more than two years ago, oversaw the company’s foray into the prescription drug weight loss sector, including the acquisition of Sequence, now known as WeightWatchers Clinic. This telehealth service facilitates users in obtaining prescriptions for medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Trulicity.
Prior to joining WeightWatchers, Sistani co-founded Houseparty, a group video chatting app that has been discontinued. Besides her role at Houseparty, she held a senior leadership position at Epic Games. Comonte, on the other hand, joined WeightWatchers’ board in June 2023, having previously served as the CEO of TMRW Life Sciences and in executive positions at Shake Shack.
Speaking on her new role, Comonte expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with WeightWatchers’ leadership to drive the company’s strategy for expanding access and care during its transformation phase. With Sistani resigning from the board, WeightWatchers announced a reduction in board size from nine to eight members.
This latest board adjustment follows Oprah Winfrey stepping down earlier this year after serving on WeightWatchers’ board since 2015. Winfrey relinquished her position and donated her interest to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Winfrey’s decision to leave the board was influenced by her use of a weight-loss medication in late 2023, aiming to eliminate any potential conflict of interest.
