Aperture Pet & Life names Kolodzieski chairman and CEO, promotes Freeman

By AI, Created 7:53 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – Aperture Pet & Life said Edward Kolodzieski has been serving as chairman and CEO since mid-2025 and promoted Ashley Freeman to senior vice president, communications and customer success. The moves signal a push to scale growth, expand aquatics education and lean harder into sustainability across brands like AquaIllumination, Bulk Reef Supply and Neptune Systems.

Why it matters: - Aperture Pet & Life is aligning leadership with a broader push into growth, education and sustainable aquatics. - The changes affect a company that reaches saltwater and freshwater hobbyists through retail, manufacturing, distribution and media. - Kolodzieski’s appointment formalizes a leadership structure built to scale across Aperture’s brands and customer channels.

What happened: - Aperture Pet & Life announced that Edward Kolodzieski has been serving as chairman of the board and chief executive officer since mid-2025. - The company also promoted Ashley Freeman to senior vice president, communications and customer success. - The leadership update was released May 18, 2026. - Aperture Pet & Life is the parent company of AquaIllumination, AquaReady, BulkReefSupply.com, EcoTech Marine, HelloReef and Neptune Systems.

The details: - Kolodzieski has been building the team and infrastructure to support growth across Aperture’s business. - Aperture said the strategy includes premium products, educational platforms and sustainable practices that support marine environments. - Kolodzieski said the company has spent the past year strengthening the business for long-term growth while being mindful of the fragile marine environment. - Kolodzieski said Aperture is positioned to make aquarium keeping easier and more successful for aquarists and the animals they care for. - Kolodzieski brings experience across retail, e-commerce, supply chain and consumer products. - Kolodzieski is also chief executive officer of Leopard Capital Partners, a business advisory firm focused on high-growth businesses, turnarounds and strategic partnerships. - Kolodzieski serves on the board of Liquidity Services, a global B2B e-commerce marketplace focused on sustainability and asset lifecycle management. - Kolodzieski previously held senior roles at Walmart, including executive vice president of global sourcing, chief operating officer of Walmart International and chairman and CEO of Walmart Japan/SEIYU LTD. - The National Association of Corporate Directors has recognized Kolodzieski as a NACD Board Governance Leader. - Kolodzieski has served as chairman of public and privately held companies ranging from startups to multi-billion-dollar businesses. - Kolodzieski said his interest in marine environments comes from a lifetime around water, reef diving and early aquarium keeping. - Kolodzieski and his wife, Terry, maintain a 3,000-gallon Indo-Pacific reef aquarium at home, which they have cared for together for more than a decade. - Freeman’s expanded role is focused on connecting Aperture’s brands and expertise with aquarists and the broader aquatics industry. - Freeman’s background spans journalism, public relations, digital marketing and e-commerce. - Before joining Aperture four years ago, Freeman held marketing and e-commerce leadership roles at Office Depot & OfficeMax. - Her work there included large-scale digital marketing, content strategy and customer engagement programs. - Kolodzieski said Freeman is well suited to communicate with Aperture’s customers as the company expands support for aquarists, wholesalers and local fish stores. - Freeman keeps a HelloReef aquarium at home with clownfish raised in a BRStv studio aquarium and beginner-friendly corals propagated from office colonies. - Freeman said the company’s teams combine knowledge and passion for the hobby and the people and animals in it. - Freeman said she wants to help more people experience the joy of keeping thriving aquariums. - Aperture said the leadership update follows a recent expansion of responsibly sourced and aquacultured animals through Bulk Reef Supply. - Aperture operates BulkReefSupply.com, which it describes as the leading online marketplace for saltwater aquarists, and offers products and education for saltwater and freshwater aquarium keeping. - Aperture also supports aquarists through BRStv and brands including AquaIllumination, AquaReady, EcoTech Marine, HelloReef and Neptune Systems. - The company’s social links include LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, X and Instagram for EcoTech Marine.

Between the lines: - Aperture is pairing executive leadership with a customer-facing communications role, suggesting the company wants tighter coordination between brand strategy and hobbyist engagement. - The emphasis on sustainability and aquacultured animals signals a commercial strategy that also leans on conservation messaging. - Kolodzieski’s retail and e-commerce background points to a scaling play that may prioritize operations, distribution and digital growth.

What’s next: - Aperture is likely to continue expanding initiatives tied to innovation, sustainability and industry growth under Kolodzieski’s leadership. - Freeman’s broader mandate suggests more direct outreach to aquarists, wholesalers and local fish stores. - The company is expected to keep building around educational content, responsible sourcing and its aquatics brands.