Board of Directors

Ms. Meyrowitz, age 66, has been Executive Chairman of the Board since January 2016 and a director since September 2006. She served as Chairman of the Board from June 2015 to January 2016 and as Chief Executive Officer of TJX from January 2007 to January 2016. In previous roles, Ms. Meyrowitz served as President of TJX from October 2005 to January 2011, Senior Executive Vice President of TJX from 2004 until January 2005, Executive Vice President of TJX from 2001 to 2004, and President of Marmaxx from 2001 to January 2005. From January 2005 until October 2005, she was employed in an advisory role for TJX and consulted for Berkshire Partners LLC, a private equity firm. From 1983 to 2001, Ms. Meyrowitz held various senior management and merchandising positions with Marmaxx and with Chadwick’s of Boston and Hit or Miss, former divisions of TJX. Ms. Meyrowitz was also a director of Staples, Inc. from 2007 to 2017. As Executive Chairman of the Board of TJX, and through the many other positions Ms. Meyrowitz has held with TJX, Ms. Meyrowitz has a deep understanding of TJX and broad experience in all aspects of off-price retail, including innovation, business strategy, buying, distribution, marketing, real estate, finance and accounting, and international operations.

Mr. Abdalla, age 61, was the President of PepsiCo, Inc., a leading global food, snack, and beverage company, from September 2012 through his retirement in December 2014, prior to which he served as CEO of PepsiCo Europe, a division of PepsiCo, starting in November 2009 and as President, PepsiCo Europe Region starting in January 2006. Mr. Abdalla previously held a variety of senior positions at PepsiCo since he joined that company in 1995, including as General Manager of PepsiCo’s European Beverage Business, General Manager of Tropicana Europe, and Franchise Vice President for Pakistan and the Gulf region. Mr. Abdalla is also a director of Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation. Mr. Abdalla’s executive experience with a large global company has given him expertise in corporate management, including in emerging markets, operations, brand management, distribution, and global strategy.

Mr. Alvarez, age 57, is a member of the faculty of the Harvard Business School, which he joined in 2009 after holding various senior executive roles in the food retail industry. He served as Executive Vice President – Global Business Development for Royal Ahold N.V., now Royal Ahold Delhaize N.V., a global food retail group, in 2008 and served in a number of key management positions at Stop & Shop/Giant-Landover, a U.S. division of the group, from 2001 until 2008, including President and Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Logistics. He previously held executive positions at Shaw’s Supermarkets after beginning his career at American Stores Company in 1990. Mr. Alvarez has also been a member of the board of directors of United Rentals, Inc., an equipment rental company, since 2009. His long career in the retail industry, including his experience as an educator on the industry, along with his public company directorships, provide him with deep expertise in global retail chain management, including organizational leadership, store management, supply chain, logistics, distribution, merchandising, marketing, and strategy.

Mr. Bennett, age 69, served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of H&R Block, Inc., a tax services provider, from July 2010 until his retirement in May 2011 and was previously Interim Chief Executive Officer from November 2007 through August 2008. He was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and a Member of the Office of the Chairman of Aetna Inc., a diversified healthcare benefits company, from 2001 to 2007, and previously held other senior financial management positions at Aetna after joining in 1995. Mr. Bennett held various senior management roles in finance and sales/marketing at Pirelli Armstrong Tire Corporation, formerly Armstrong Rubber Company, from 1981 to 1995 and began his career with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst & Young LLP). Mr. Bennett serves as our Lead Director. Mr. Bennett is also a director of Halliburton Company and Fluor Corporation. Mr. Bennett’s senior leadership roles in two significant financial businesses provide him with executive experience in managing very large businesses and change management as well as financial expertise including financial management, taxes, accounting, controls, finance, and financial reporting.

Ms. Berkery, age 67, was Chairman of UBS Bank USA and Vice Chairman of UBS Wealth Management Americas, a bank and wealth management firm, from March 2010 until April 2018, also serving as CEO of UBS Bank USA from March 2010 to December 2015. Before joining UBS, she held a variety of roles over more than 25 years at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., until her departure in January 2009, including Executive Vice President and General Counsel from 2001 and Vice Chairman from 2007. Ms. Berkery is also a director of Fluor Corporation. Her long career as a senior executive in the financial services industry provides her with expertise in finance, investment strategies, and management of complex organizations, as well as significant experience in governance, compliance, and risk assessment and oversight.

Mr. Ching, age 67, was Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Safeway Inc., a food and drug retailer, from 1994 to January 2013 and has consulted through DTC Associates LLC, focusing on management consulting and technology services, since 2013. Previously, Mr. Ching was the General Manager for British American Consulting Group, a software and consulting firm focusing on the distribution and retail industry. He also worked for Lucky Stores Inc., a subsidiary of American Stores Company, from 1979 to 1993, including serving as the Senior Vice President of Information Systems. Mr. Ching’s strong technological experience and related management positions in the retail industry provide him expertise including in information systems, information security and controls, technology implementation and operation, reporting, and distribution in the retail industry.

Ms. Lane, age 67, was a Managing Director and Group Leader of the Global Retailing Investment Banking Group at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., from 1997 until her retirement in 2002. Ms. Lane previously served as a Managing Director at Salomon Brothers, Inc., where she founded and led the retail industry investment banking unit. Ms. Lane’s public company roles consist of serving as a director of GNC Holdings, Inc., NextEra Energy, Inc., and as a member of the board of trustees of Urban Edge Properties. Ms. Lane’s experience as the leader of two investment banking practices covering the global retailing industry has given her substantial experience with financial services, capital markets, finance and accounting, capital structure, acquisitions, and divestitures in that industry as well as management, leadership, and strategy.

Ms. Nemerov, age 68, was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global leader in premium lifestyle products, from November 2013 until November 2015. She served as Executive Vice President of Ralph Lauren Corporation from September 2004 until October 2013 and was a member of Ralph Lauren Corporation’s board of directors from 2007 until September 2015. Prior to her tenure there, she held multiple positions in the retail industry, including President and Chief Operating Officer of the Jones Apparel Group from 1998 to 2002. Ms. Nemerov’s extensive retail, brand management and operations experience, as well as her related management positions in the apparel and retail industry, provide her with valuable expertise in supply chain management, manufacturing, merchandising, and licensing in the retail industry.

Mr. O’Brien, age 77, is the retired Chief Executive Officer and President of Allmerica Financial Corporation (now The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.), an insurance and diversified financial services company, holding those positions from 1995 to 2002. Mr. O’Brien previously held executive positions at Fidelity Investments, an asset management firm, including Group Managing Director of FMR Corporation, Chairman of Institutional Services Company, and Chairman of Brokerage Services, Inc. Mr. O’Brien is a director of LKQ Corporation and was a director of Cabot Corporation from 1990 until March 2020. He served as a director of a family of registered mutual funds managed by BlackRock, Inc., an investment management advisory firm, from 2004 until December 2018. Mr. O’Brien has substantial executive experience with two financial services businesses, giving him expertise including general management and oversight with respect to strategy, financial planning, insurance, operations, finance, and capital structure.

Ms. Shire, age 72, was an executive consultant with Orchard Consulting Group from 1994 to January 2015, specializing in leadership development and strategic problem solving. Previously, she was Chairperson for the Computer Systems Public Policy Project within the National Academy of Science. She also held various positions at Digital Equipment Corporation, a computer hardware manufacturer, for 18 years, including Vice President and Officer, Health Industries Business Unit. Through her consulting experience and prior business experience, Ms. Shire brings expertise in leadership development, talent assessment, change management, human resources and development practices, cultural assessment, and strategic problem solving.