Roots CEO Meghan Roach steps down following acquisition

Meghan Roach has stepped down as president and CEO of Roots after the Canadian outdoor and lifestyle brand completed its sale to Marquee Brands and its operating partner JM&A Design and Development.

“Today, I am stepping down as President and CEO of Roots after successfully completing its sale to Marquee Brands and JM&A. It has been an honour to lead the company through this process and to position Roots for its next chapter as a private company,” Roach wrote in a LinkedIn post.

Under the deal announced in August, JM&A acquired all outstanding Roots shares for 4.10 Canadian dollars per share in cash. That represents a 36 percent premium to the closing price on March 2, 2026, the last trading day before Roots announced its strategic review. Shareholders approved the transaction in October.

JM&A is led by Club Monaco and Joe Fresh founder Joe Mimran and retail veteran Frank Rocchetti. As Roots’ core operating partner, it will oversee design, development, manufacturing and distribution of the brand’s men’s and women’s apparel. It will also run retail and e-commerce operations across Canada and the US, including more than 100 North American stores. Marquee Brands, whose portfolio includes Martha Stewart, Laura Ashley and Roberto Cavalli, will focus on global brand expansion and new category development. It plans to take Roots into markets including Korea, India and Mexico.

Roach led Roots for nearly seven years. “There is no way to capture almost seven years in a LinkedIn post. What I can say is that I am deeply grateful to have had the opportunity to be a steward of this brand,” she wrote.

She also thanked Searchlight Capital Partners, which became Roots’ majority investor in 2015, before the company’s 2017 IPO.

“Congratulations to Marquee Brands, Joe Mimran, and Frank Rocchetti. I look forward to supporting Roots through this transition over the next few months, and I am excited to see where the brand goes from here,” Roach added.