Bed Bath & Beyond Chief Financial Officer Gustavo Arnal jumped to his death in Manhattan, the New York City Police Department reported.
Arnal, 52, was found unconscious and unresponsive outside the luxury 57-story skyscraper in Tribeca known as the “Jenga Tower” on Friday. Police said the man “appeared to suffer from injuries indicative from a fall from an elevated position.” EMS responded and pronounced him dead.
According to authorities Arnal’s wife witnessed him jump. No suicide note was found, no criminality is suspected and the investigation remains ongoing.
In a statement Sunday, the Independent Chair of Bed Bath & Beyond’s Board of Directors Harriet Edelman said Arnal was “instrumental in guiding the organization throughout the coronavirus pandemic, transforming the company’s financial foundation and building a strong and talented team.”
Arnal was named as a defendant in a class action lawsuit accusing him, and other large shareholders like Ryan Cohen, of artificially inflating the price of the company’s stock.
Bed Bath & Beyond is facing harsh scrutiny as they try to stay out of bankruptcy. The company said last week that it will lay off approximately 20% of corporate employees and close around 150 stores.
“The entire Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. organization is profoundly saddened by this shocking loss,” the company said in a statement.
“The entire Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. organization is profoundly saddened by this shocking loss,” the company said in a statement.
