The WeightWatchers CEO who oversaw the diet company's foray into weight loss drugs has abruptly left the role

NEW YORK (AP) – Weight Watchers Shaking its leadership.

WW International announced Friday that CEO Sima Sistani will step into her role effective immediately. Weight Watchers board member and former Shake Shack executive Tara Comante was named interim CEO.

Based in New York Weight loss company It did not disclose the reasons behind the sudden move, but it noted that Comonte will step into the role of CEO at a time when the company is “focusing on improving its operational and financial performance.”

WeightWatchers, which was more established 60 years ago, some have struggled recently. Its latest earnings report showed that restructuring efforts led to lower profits and lower costs. Its stock has also declined over time. WW shares are down more than 90% over the past year; Now trading as a penny stock, they closed Friday at around 83 cents.

Sistani joined WeightWatchers as CEO more than two years ago. During his tenure, he led the company's recent initiatives Prescription drug weight loss business — especially with $106 million acquisition of SequenceNow WeightWatchers Clinic, a telehealth service that helps users get prescriptions Medicines like Ozempic, Wegovy and Trulicity.

Before joining WeightWatchers, Sistani co-founded HouseParty, a now-defunct social networking app that offered group video chatting. In addition to serving as CEO of HouseParty, Sistani was previously a senior leader at Epic Games.

Comonte joined the board of Weightwatchers in June 2023. Most recently, he was CEO of fertility company TMRW Life Sciences — and before that he served as president and CFO of Shake Shack. Outside of his current position at WeightWatchers, he also serves on the boards of Kindbody and Strava, according to the company.

In a statement, Comante said he looks forward to working with WeightWatcher leadership “as we advance the company's strategy to expand access and care at this critical time in our transformation.”

With Sistani stepping down from his position on the board, WeightWatchers said it will reduce the size of its board from nine to eight members.

WeightWatchers previously cut its board from 10 to nine members earlier this year — after former talk show host Oprah Winfrey resignation. Winfrey, who was Served on WeightWatchers' Board Since 2015, said in February that he will give up his position and donate all his interests to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

The move comes after Winfrey told People magazine in December 2023 that she was using weight loss drugs. At the time of her departure, the agency said Winfrey aimed to “remove any perceived conflict of interest.”