Bed Bath & Beyond CFO dies after fall from 18 floor NYC building

Bed Bath & Beyond CFO and executive vice president Gustavo Arnal fell to his death on Friday from the 18th-floor balcony of his Manhattan high-rise apartment building, according to a Sunday confirmation from the company. 

The nationwide chain’s leadership did not reveal how the high-level executive died but instead released a statement simply expressing the company’s sorrow.

“I wish to extend our sincerest condolences to Gustavo's family,” said Harriet Edelman, Independent Chair of the Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Board of Directors. “Gustavo will be remembered by all he worked with for his leadership, talent, and stewardship of our Company. I am proud to have been his colleague, and he will be truly missed by all of us at Bed Bath & Beyond and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Our focus is on supporting his family and his team and our thoughts are with them during this sad and difficult time. Please join us in respecting the family's privacy.”

Multiple news sources reported that 52-year-old Arnal, who was recruited by the chain in May 2020, fell from the Tribeca "Jenga Building" while his wife was at home, and police did not find a suicide note.

Sources indicate authorities do not suspect any foul play, but only two weeks before his death, Arnal sold about $1 million in company shares. 

Bed Bath & Beyond has been facing problems and last week announced plans to reduce its workforce by 20% and close about 150 of its stores.

Gustavo Arnal, 52, was the subject of a class-action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that he and majority shareholder, GameStop Chairman Ryan Cohen, had artificially inflated the company’s value in a "pump and dump" scheme, according to Fox News.