Tony Iskander
Leslie'sAbout Tony Iskander
Tony (Anthony) Iskander, age 51, served as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Leslie’s, Inc. from March 14, 2025, and transitioned to an Advisor role from October 5, 2025 through January 3, 2026 to support the incoming CFO transition . He brings nearly 30 years in corporate finance, treasury, M&A, and capital markets, with prior leadership at Advance Auto Parts (Interim CFO, SVP FP&A/Treasurer) and more than a decade at Hillrom; he holds a BS in Financial Management and an MBA in Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business . As Interim CFO, management highlighted debt reduction and liquidity as top priorities; Iskander noted repayment of $20 million on the revolver subsequent to Q3, maintained sufficient liquidity, and targeted $5–$10 million in cost optimization beginning next year, against a backdrop of leverage “in the low double digits” . Company-wide context: FY2024 Adjusted EBITDA was $108.7M vs. a $180.0M target, resulting in 0% bonus payout for NEOs (pre-Iskander tenure) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie’s, Inc. | Interim Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | 2025 (Mar 14, 2025 start) | Prioritized debt reduction and liquidity; repaid $20M on revolver post-Q3; focused on cost optimization and asset utilization |
| Advance Auto Parts | Interim CFO; SVP FP&A/Finance; Treasurer | 2017–2024 | Led $1.5B wholesale divestiture; >$2B capital restructuring; increased cash flow by >$500M via capital planning and working capital focus |
| Hillrom | Progressive finance leadership roles | ~2000s–2010s (10+ years) | Built foundation in corporate finance across manufacturing/technology; leadership in financial reporting/internal audit/treasury |
| Multiple public companies | Accounting, financial reporting, internal audit, treasury | Early career | Built core technical finance skill set |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stambrisk Consulting LLC | Co‑Founder and Managing Partner | 2024–present | CFO‑level consulting across public/private markets; advised Leslie’s beginning Dec 2024; Leslie’s paid ~$156,000 to Stambrisk through Mar 17, 2025 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Terms | Effective Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $550,000 annual | Effective Mar 14, 2025 | As Interim CFO |
| Monthly Interim Bonus | $34,375 per completed month | While serving as Interim CFO | Subject to continuous active employment, maintaining positive performance, and remaining in good standing |
| Benefits | Standard benefits incl. health & welfare insurance, 401(k), 4 weeks vacation | Upon hire | Per offer letter |
| Advisor Compensation | $50,000 per fiscal month (total $150,000 for term) | Oct 5, 2025–Jan 3, 2026 | No participation in incentive or severance programs during advisory term |
Performance Compensation
| Program | Eligibility | Metric(s) | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) | Not eligible as Interim CFO | Adjusted EBITDA (company framework) | $180.0M (FY2024) | $108.7M (FY2024) | 0% (FY2024 company outcome) | N/A |
| Long‑Term Equity (RSUs/PSUs) | Not expected to be granted equity awards as Interim CFO | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Note: Iskander was not eligible for the AIP and was not expected to receive equity grants while serving as Interim CFO . The AIP framework is shown for company context.
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Common shares beneficially owned | 2,000 shares, Direct (Form 3) |
| Ownership vs. outstanding | ~0.0011% (2,000 of 185,578,489 shares outstanding as of July 14, 2025) |
| RSUs/Options held | None disclosed on Form 3; not expected to receive equity awards as Interim CFO |
| Pledged shares | None disclosed; company policy prohibits pledging by insiders |
| Hedging | Prohibited for insiders per policy |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Company guidelines: CFO multiple = 3x base salary (applies to NEOs and designated officers); compliance status for Iskander not disclosed |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date / Role | Effective Mar 14, 2025; Interim CFO & Treasurer (principal financial and accounting officer) |
| Employment status | At‑will; company may terminate with or without cause and with or without notice |
| Termination notice | 30 days’ notice for termination without cause (offer letter) |
| Severance (Interim CFO) | If terminated without cause: periodic severance payments for three months following termination, subject to a general release |
| Incentives while Interim CFO | Not eligible for AIP cash incentive; not expected to be granted equity awards |
| Advisor transition | Advisor role Oct 5, 2025–Jan 3, 2026 at $50,000/month; not eligible for incentives and will not participate in Executive Severance Pay Plan |
| Advisor early termination protection | If terminated (other than resignation) before Jan 3, 2026 and upon effective release: company continues base advisory compensation through end of term |
| Related‑party services | Stambrisk Consulting LLC (co‑founded by Iskander) had provided services to Leslie’s since Dec 2024; company paid ~ $156,000 to Stambrisk as of Mar 17, 2025 |
Performance & Track Record
- Advance Auto Parts: Key role in $1.5B divestiture of the wholesale business; orchestrated >$2B capital restructuring; increased cash flow by >$500M through capital planning and working capital focus .
- Q3 2025 commentary (Leslie’s): No planned store closures in year; targeted additional $5–$10M cost optimization beginning next year; leverage ratio “low double digits”; repaid $20M on revolver post‑Q3; maintained sufficient liquidity to meet liabilities .
- Certifications and filings: Signed Section 906 certification for Q2 FY2025 10‑Q; signed 8‑K for Q3 FY2025 results as Interim CFO .
Compensation Structure Analysis
- Cash‑heavy interim package: Compensation comprised of base salary and a fixed monthly bonus during interim period; no equity awards expected—lower long‑term alignment but also minimal forced insider selling from vesting .
- Advisor term economics: Fixed monthly stipend, no incentives or severance plan participation; early termination protection limited to balance of term upon release .
- Governance mitigants: Company maintains a clawback policy, bans hedging/pledging, and prescribes stock ownership guidelines (CFO 3x base salary) to promote alignment .
- Company peer benchmarking and say‑on‑pay: Compensation program benchmarked vs. a defined peer group; 2024 say‑on‑pay approved at ~97.6% .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Listing compliance backdrop: Company pursued a reverse stock split authorization amid Nasdaq minimum bid deficiency, highlighting market‑listing risk context during Iskander’s interim tenure .
- Related‑party services: Prior consulting relationship (Stambrisk) disclosed with ~$156k paid before appointment—appropriate transparency but noteworthy from a governance vantage point .
- Limited equity alignment: No expected equity awards and small disclosed ownership (2,000 shares) reduce “skin‑in‑the‑game” alignment .
- Mitigants: Prohibitions on hedging/pledging and presence of a clawback policy .
Investment Implications
- Alignment and selling pressure: With no interim equity awards and only 2,000 shares disclosed, insider selling pressure tied to vesting is negligible, but alignment via long‑term equity is also limited .
- Retention/transition risk: Interim status with modest severance (3 months) followed by a short advisory term suggests the role was transitional; incoming CFO appointment and orderly handoff reduce continuity risk for the finance function .
- Execution focus: Iskander emphasized debt reduction, liquidity preservation, and incremental cost optimization—key levers for equity value given leverage and listing backdrop; monitoring the incoming CFO’s continuation of these initiatives is critical .