Early Life
Ryan Cohen was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1986, to a Jewish family. He started his entrepreneurial journey at the young age of 15, collecting fees from e-commerce site referrals. Cohen's father, who ran a glassware importing business, served as a significant mentor, inspiring his approach to business. Cohen did not attend college, choosing instead to pursue his entrepreneurial interests.
Rise to Success
Cohen founded Chewy in 2011, originally named MrChewy, after being inspired by his dog Tylee. He secured the company's first outside investment in 2013. Chewy quickly grew to become the largest online pet retailer, with $3.5 billion in revenue by 2018. In 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy for $3.35 billion. In January 2021, Cohen joined the GameStop board, and in September 2023 he became the CEO. Cohen's initial investment in GameStop was approximately $76 million for a 13% stake.
Key Business Strategies
Cohen's business strategies have involved a customer-focused approach, which was evident in Chewy's success. Cohen implemented a strategy of "extreme frugality" at GameStop and scrutinized every expense. He has also been instrumental in significant changes at GameStop, including hiring numerous employees and leading a company-wide transformation.
Philanthropy
Specific philanthropy amounts for Ryan Cohen were not found in the search results.
