• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

Kimberley Gardiner is exiting Tractor Supply after four years. She was CMO.

Gardiner made the announcement Wednesday on LinkedIn. 

“Couldn’t let this chapter close without saying a big thank you,” she wrote. “Friday was my last day at Tractor Supply, wrapping up four of the most meaningful years of my career. More than anything, I’m grateful for the Team Members I had the privilege of working alongside across the country. Your hard work, humility, and heart for Life Out Here are what make this company and this culture special. I learned a great deal from all of you, and I’ll carry that and a lot of good memories with me into what comes next.”

Gardiner is leaving for another undisclosed position that will be announced shortly.

Tractor Supply has added CMO duties to Neil Tenzer's duties. 

Tenzer joined Tractor Supply in 2021 after serving in leadership roles at EssilorLuxottica, Abercrombie & Fitch and Kearney. At Tractor Supply, Neil initially served as vice president, strategy and business development. In 2023, he transitioned to vice president, customer loyalty, insights and engagement. Most recently, Tenzer served as senior vice president of Petsense by Tractor Supply.

His new title is senior vice president, chief marketing officer and pet health where he leads strategic marketing across all communication channels for national, regional and local initiatives, as well as loyalty marketing through the Company’s Neighbor’s Club program, according to the company. Additionally, he holds responsibility for Allivet and VIP Petcare, part of Tractor Supply’s pet services offering.

Like many brick-and-mortar stores, the company is struggling with slowing sales.  

“Tractor Supply’s profit fell more than 16% in the three months ended June 27, to roughly $361 million, compared with a year earlier,” notes The Wall Street Journal. “While sales climbed 2.3% to $4.54 billion, same-store sales slipped 1.5%. “The chain is scaling back expansion to focus on its existing footprint. Tractor Supply is closing roughly 75 underperforming Petsense pet-specialty stores and lowering its 2027 opening target to between 85 and 90 new locations, down from 100. Saved capital will fund upgrades including store remodels, expanded final mile deliveries handled in-house and self-service pet-washes.”

Gardiner posted five months ago about the annual sales meeting. She said one of the highlights was “sharing how we’re doubling down on local marketing in 2026 to help our stores win in their communities.”

She also hosted the TSC marketing arena booth “where our team connected with dozens of store managers, swapped ideas, and talked about how we can support them even better.”

Gardiner had an illustrious career in the automotive sector — including gigs at Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Kia and Toyota — before joining Tractor Supply. She shared what had attracted her to Tractor Supply, which she joined after taking a cold call from a recruiter. 

“One of the things that I love about our brand, when we talk about our customers and when you come into a Tractor Supply store, they're your neighbors,” she said at MediaPost’s TV and Video Insider Summit in October 2023. “They’re warm, they're friendly, the characteristics that we talk about, they're resourceful, they're do-it-yourselfers. They're just good, hardworking, nice people.”