Crumbl Founders Jason McGowan, Sawyer Hemsley, and Bryce Redd Step Down in Planned Leadership Transition

Crumbl’s co-founders and top executives are stepping down from their roles as part of a planned leadership transition. The announcement, shared via an X post on Monday, confirmed that CEO Jason McGowan, co-founder and chief brand officer Sawyer Hemsley, and chief technology officer Bryce Redd will permanently leave their positions.

According to the post, the three leaders will remain in their roles until replacements are found through a rigorous hiring process. After their departure, McGowan will transition to chairman of the board, while Hemsley and Redd will join the board as members.

“I believe now is the right time to bring in new leadership through an open search process. That is why I am sharing this now. Getting the right people in place matters a lot, and I believe an open process will allow us to find the very best leadership to support Crumbl’s future success and stay involved to support a smooth transition.”

The company also emphasized its focus on scaling operations and driving innovation to maintain its standout position in the dessert industry.

Crumbl’s Growth and Recent Challenges

Founded in 2017 by McGowan and Hemsley, Crumbl has grown into a major player in the dessert market, operating approximately 1,100 locations across the U.S. However, the brand has faced recent setbacks, including mass layoffs in 2023 that reduced its corporate workforce by about 10%. Additionally, Crumbl has closed at least 19 underperforming stores in recent years.

Rumors about the brand potentially shutting down have circulated, but Rhonda Bromley, Crumbl’s VP of public relations, dismissed these claims in a statement to Fast Company.

“We have no plans for growth to stop and will be opening many more stores in both the United States and Canada in 2026.”

Despite mixed reactions from customers—some praise the oversized, often cold cookies with generous toppings, while others critique them—Crumbl continues to expand its footprint and refine its business strategy.