ascena LEADERSHIP

Carrie W. Teffner

Interim Executive Chair

Director since 2018

Carrie W. Teffner served as Executive Vice President Finance and Strategic Projects of Crocs, Inc. (“Crocs”) from August 2018 to April 2019, and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Crocs from December 2015 to August 2018.  Prior to joining Crocs, Ms. Teffner served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PetSmart, Inc. from 2013 to 2015 until it was sold to BC Partners, where she was responsible for finance and information technology.  Ms. Teffner also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Weber Stephen Products LLC from 2011 to 2013.  From 2009 to 2011, Ms. Teffner served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Timberland Company until it was sold to VF Corporation.  Ms. Teffner spent the first 21 years of her career with Sara Lee Corporation where she held various domestic and international positions including divisional and segment Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.  Ms. Teffner also serves as a director and Audit Committee Chair for GameStop Corp. since August 2018.  Ms. Teffner served as a director and the Audit Committee Chair for Banfield, The Pet Hospital, from 2014 to 2015, and as a director of Crocs for six months during 2015 prior to her appointment as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Ms. Teffner also served as a director of the nonprofit community revitalization organization, Rebuilding Together, from 2013 to 2019.

The Board selected Ms. Teffner to serve as a Director based on her extensive strategic, financial and operational expertise and background in financial reporting and internal controls for large, publicly held product and retail companies.

Board of Directors

Gary Begeman

Director since 2019

Gary Begeman has over 30 years of experience managing the legal support for a broad range of strategic, financing and commercial transactions for public and private companies.  Mr. Begeman has served as an independent director on boards of directors of a number of privately owned companies including Intelsat Jackson Holdings, S.A., a Luxembourg société anonyme (since April 2020), SolAero Technologies Corp. (since November 2018), Toys “R” Us Property Company II, LLC (from August 2017 to December 2018) and Sequa Corporation (from February 2016 to May 2017).  He is also Chair and a director of the University of South Dakota Foundation.  He was previously Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of NII Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded wireless telecommunications company operating in Latin America, from November 2006 to October 2015.  From August 2003 to September 2006, Mr. Begeman was Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Sprint Corporation and before that, he was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at Nextel Communications.  Prior to that, Mr. Begeman was General Counsel at XO Communications, Inc., and was a Partner at the Jones Day law firm, focusing on capital formation and mergers and acquisitions.

The Board selected Mr. Begeman to serve as a director based on his strong legal background and work with public and private companies.

Kate Buggeln

Committee(s): Compensation and Stock Option Committee, Leadership and Corporate Governance Committee
Director since 2004

Kate Buggeln was appointed as Ascena’s Lead Independent Director on October 4, 2018. Currently, Ms. Buggeln serves as a member of the Board for publicly traded Five Below, Inc. and is a member of its Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee.  She also is on the Board of Noble Biomaterials, Scoop Holdings (parent company of cabi) and the nonprofit, Bpeace. Previously, Ms. Buggeln was a Senior Advisor with Irving Place Capital, L.P., and prior to that position was Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Coach, Inc., where she created and led strategies to enter new markets and new categories. Ms. Buggeln also spent many years as a retail consultant at LakeWest Group Ltd. and Coopers & Lybrand LLP, where she advised retail companies on business strategy, operations, e-commerce and supply chain. Previously, Ms. Buggeln served as a Director at Vitamin Shoppe, Stuart Weitzman and Timberland Co.

The Board selected Ms. Buggeln to serve as a director based on her strong background in strategic planning, marketing and new business development.

Paul Keglevic

Director since 2019

Paul Keglevic has served on several boards of directors and related Committees with experience across multiple industries including retail. Mr. Keglevic currently serves on the boards of directors of Evergy, Inc., PetSmart, Inc.; Bonanza Creek Energy Inc. and Intelsat Jackson Holdings, S.A., a Luxembourg société anonyme.  Prior to his retirement in April 2018, Mr. Keglevic served as the Chief Executive Officer (2016 to 2018) and Chief Financial Officer (2008 to 2016) of Energy Future Holdings Corp. Mr. Keglevic was a partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PWC“) from 2002 to 2008 and a member of their U.S. Leadership team. Prior to PWC, Mr. Keglevic was a partner and member of the U.S. Leadership team for Arthur Andersen.

The Board selected Mr. Keglevic to serve as a director based on his finance, merger and acquisition, transactional and governance experience.

Kay Krill

Director since 2015

Kay Krill served as Chief Executive Officer of ANN INC. (“ANN”), which was acquired by the Company on August 21, 2015, from 2005 through October 31, 2015, and as President of ANN from 2004 through October 31, 2015.  Ms. Krill also served as a member of the Board of Directors of ANN from 2004 until acquired by the Company.  From 2001 to 2004, Ms. Krill served as President of ANN’s LOFT Division.  From 1998 to 2001, Ms. Krill was Executive Vice President, Merchandise and Design of ANN’s LOFT Division.  From 1996 to 1998, Ms. Krill served as Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager of ANN’s LOFT Division and, from 1994 to 1996, she was Vice President of Merchandising for Ann Taylor.  Prior to joining ANN, Ms. Krill held various management positions at several retailers including The Talbots, Inc. and Hartmarx Corporation.

Ms. Krill is also on the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Board of Directors, and previously served on the Boards of the National Retail Federation and St. Luke’s School in New Canaan, CT.

The Board selected Ms. Krill to serve as a director based on her experience as the chief executive officer and board member of a publicly held specialty retailer, and her extensive experience in the apparel industry.

Stacey Rauch

Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

Committee(s): Audit Committee; Leadership and Corporate Governance Committee (Chair)
Director since 2017

Stacey Rauch has served as the non-executive Chairman of the board of directors of Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. since February 2017, as a director of Fiesta Restaurant Group since 2012, Chair of Fiesta Restaurant Group’s Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee, and as a member of its Compensations Committee. Ms. Rauch is a Director (Senior Partner) Emeritus of McKinsey & Company (“McKinsey”) from which she retired in September 2010. Ms. Rauch was a leader in McKinsey’s Retail and Consumer Goods Practices, served as the head of the North American Retail and Apparel Practice, and acted as the Global Retail Practice Convener. A 24 year veteran of McKinsey, Ms. Rauch led engagements for a wide range of retailers, apparel wholesalers, and consumer goods manufacturers in the US and internationally. Her areas of expertise include strategy, organization, marketing, merchandising, omnichannel management, global expansion, and retail store operations. Ms. Rauch was a co-founder of McKinsey’s New Jersey office, and was the first woman at McKinsey appointed as an industry practice leader. Prior to joining McKinsey, Ms. Rauch spent five years in product management for the General Foods Corporation. Ms. Rauch also serves as a director of Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., a global provider of executive search, leadership assessment and development services, where she sits on its Audit and Finance Committee, and as a non-executive director of Land Securities, PLC, the UK’s largest commercial property company, where she sits on its Audit, Nomination and Remuneration Committees. Previously, Ms. Rauch served on the board of directors of CEB, Inc., a leading member-based advisory company, ANN INC., (which was acquired by the Company), and Tops Holding Corporation, the parent company of Tops Markets LLC, a US grocery retailer. The Board selected Ms. Rauch to serve as a director based on her extensive background in business strategy, marketing, merchandising and operations in the retail industry.

Carl Rubin

Former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
The Michaels Companies, Inc.

Committee(s):  Audit Committee (Chair) and Compensation and Stock Incentive Committee
Director since 2015

Carl “Chuck” Rubin served as Chairman of the Board of The Michaels Companies, Inc. (“Michaels”) from 2015 to April 2019. He joined Michaels in 2013 and was its Chief Executive Officer from 2013 to February 2019. Prior to joining Michaels, from 2010 to 2013, Mr. Rubin was President and Chief Executive Officer of Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrances, Inc. Mr. Rubin held roles of increasing responsibility at Office Depot, serving as President beginning in 2006. Mr. Rubin spent six years in senior leadership roles, including Partner, at Accenture Consulting where he advised clients and led engagements across retail formats and ecommerce business. Prior to joining Accenture Consulting, Mr. Rubin held various management positions at several specialty retailers. Mr. Rubin was a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of The National Retail Federation from 2007 to 2010.

The Board selected Mr. Rubin to serve as a Director based on his extensive managerial and operational knowledge of the retail industry and his experience as a board member of a specialty retailer.

Carrie W. Teffner

Interim Executive Chair

Director since 2018

Carrie W. Teffner served as Executive Vice President Finance and Strategic Projects of Crocs, Inc. (“Crocs”) from August 2018 to April 2019, and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Crocs from December 2015 to August 2018.  Prior to joining Crocs, Ms. Teffner served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PetSmart, Inc. from 2013 to 2015 until it was sold to BC Partners, where she was responsible for finance and information technology.  Ms. Teffner also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Weber Stephen Products LLC from 2011 to 2013.  From 2009 to 2011, Ms. Teffner served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Timberland Company until it was sold to VF Corporation.  Ms. Teffner spent the first 21 years of her career with Sara Lee Corporation where she held various domestic and international positions including divisional and segment Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.  Ms. Teffner also serves as a director and Audit Committee Chair for GameStop Corp. since August 2018.  Ms. Teffner served as a director and the Audit Committee Chair for Banfield, The Pet Hospital, from 2014 to 2015, and as a director of Crocs for six months during 2015 prior to her appointment as its Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.  Ms. Teffner also served as a director of the nonprofit community revitalization organization, Rebuilding Together, from 2013 to 2019.

The Board selected Ms. Teffner to serve as a Director based on her extensive strategic, financial and operational expertise and background in financial reporting and internal controls for large, publicly held product and retail companies.

John L. Welborn, Jr.

Managing Director
Stadium Capital Management

Committee(s):  Audit Committee; Leadership and Corporate Governance Committee
Director since 2018

John L. Welborn, Jr. serves as a Managing Director for Stadium Capital Management, LLC (“Stadium”), an investment advisory firm that focuses on smaller capitalized publicly traded companies in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe. In his role at Stadium, Mr. Welborn has led or supported Stadium’s due diligence across many different industries, including financial services, retail, software and business services.

Mr. Welborn joined Stadium in 2000 as an Associate. Prior to joining Stadium, from 1998 to 2000, Mr. Welborn was a Financial Analyst at The Beacon Group, LLC, an investment and advisory firm that is now part of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. At Beacon, Mr. Welborn was a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group, focusing on financial services and consumer product companies and the Liquid Investments Committee. From 2012 to 2014, Mr. Welborn served as a director and member of the governance committee for Intermountain Community Bancorp and a director of Panhandle State Bank, Inc. From 2009 to 2013, Mr. Welborn was a board observer of West Coast Bancorp.

The Board selected Mr. Welborn to serve as a director based on his strong background in capital markets and investment experience.

Linda Yaccarino

Chairman
Advertising and Client Partnerships NBCUniversal, LLC

Committee(s): Compensation and Stock Incentive Committee (Chair); Leadership and Corporate Governance Committee
Director since 2016

Linda Yaccarino is Chairman, Advertising and Client Partnerships for NBCUniversal, LLC. (“NBCUniversal”) since 2011.  In this role Ms. Yaccarino oversees all market strategy and advertising revenue totaling nearly $10 billion, for NBCUniversal’s entire portfolio of broadcast, cable and digital assets.

Prior to joining NBCUniversal in 2011, she held roles of increasing responsibility from 1996 to 2011 at Turner Broadcast System, Inc. (“Turner”), serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Turner Entertainment Advertising, Sales and Marketing, and Acquisitions beginning in 2009. Prior to joining Turner, Ms. Yaccarino held various management positions at several media sales outlets.

The Board selected Ms. Yaccarino to serve as a director based on her extensive digital knowledge, multiplatform consumer engagement and transformation experience.

Directors Emeritus

Elliot S. Jaffe

Co-Founder & Chairman Emeritus

Elliot S. Jaffe served as a director since 1966, Chairman of the Board until 2011, Chief Executive Officer until 2002, and as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board until his retirement from the Board in December 2016.

Mr. Jaffe is the spouse of Roslyn S. Jaffe, a co-founder and Director Emeritus for Life of our Company, and they are the parents of David Jaffe, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of our Company, Elise Jaffe, a non-executive officer and a more than 5% stockholder, and Richard Jaffe, who owns approximately 5% of the Company’s stock.

Mr. Jaffe has over 60 years of experience in the apparel industry and broad knowledge of our business, as our founder, Chairman/Non-Executive Chairman for over 50 years, and as our Chief Executive Officer for 40 years.

Roslyn S. Jaffe

Co-Founder & Director Emeritus for Life

Mrs. Roslyn S. Jaffe co-founded dressbarn in 1962. Mrs. Jaffe served as Treasurer of Ascena Retail Group from 1983 until 2006 and as a Director from 1966 – 2006. In 2006, Roslyn S. Jaffe was named Director Emeritus for Life.

Mrs. Jaffe is a graduate of Simmons College and was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree in management from Simmons College in 2011.

Today, Mrs. Jaffe serves as the Executive Director of the Roslyn S. Jaffe Awards, a program that awards non-profit organizations who are working in the area of women and children’s empowerment. In addition to her work with the Roslyn S. Jaffe Awards, and ascena Cares, Mrs. Jaffe is founding member of the Jaffe Family Foundation that has supported a variety of causes, especially in medicine and higher education.

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