Leonard Riggio | |
|---|---|
 Riggio on his high school yearbook in 1958 | |
| Born | February 28, 1941 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 27, 2024 (aged 83) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Executive chairman, Barnes & Noble |
| Spouse | Louise Gebbia (second marriage) |
| Children | 3 |
Leonard Stephen Riggio (February 28, 1941 – August 27, 2024) was an American businessman. He served as executive chairman of book store chain Barnes & Noble and was its largest shareholder from 1971[1] until the sale of the company to the hedge fund Elliott Investment Management in 2019.[2][3] Under his leadership the company expanded significantly from a single retail location on 105 Fifth Avenue in New York City to a nationwide chain with 600+ stores, which it did with acquisitions and mergers of competing chain stores including his takeover of B. Dalton in 1986, which was supported by a major investment from the Dutch retailer Vendex International and Drexel Burnham Lambert–issued junk bonds.[4]
- ^ Trachtenberg, Jeffrey A. (February 19, 2010). "Barnes & Noble Won't Let Burkle Raise Stakes – Board's Unanimous Decision to Bar Activist Investor from Holding 37% of Bookseller's Shares Could Lead to Proxy Fight". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- ^ "Barnes & Noble Founder Retires, Leaving His Imprint on Bookstore's History". NPR.org. May 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ Alter, Alexandra; Hsu, Tiffany (June 7, 2019). "Barnes & Noble is Sold to Hedge Fund After a Tumultuous Year". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ Dugan, Jeanne (June 29, 1998). "The Baron of Books: Barnes & Noble's Leonard Riggio says his megastores have 'liberated' a hidebound industry. If smaller rivals perish, so be it". Business Week. Archived from the original on May 4, 1999. Retrieved August 17, 2009.