Emilie Arel has over two decades of experience serving in various leadership roles across retail, merchandising, customer experience and marketing. She has extensive experience leading complex e-commerce and omnichannel businesses, in addition to retail stores. As President and Chief Executive Officer at Casper Sleep, Arel oversees the company’s comprehensive business strategy, including commercial, brand and operations.

Arel previously served as CEO of FULLBEAUTY Brands, a plus-size apparel company, where she led the company through a debt restructuring and put them on the path to a digital transformation. Prior to that, she served as CEO of Quidsi, an Amazon company with 10 brands, including Diapers.com and Soap.com. Arel spent seven years with Gap Inc. where she held multiple merchandising and licensing positions and led a team of 12,000+ employees and 220+ stores. Before joining Gap, Arel held various roles at Target Corporation for six years. She earned MBAs from Columbia Business School and the University of California, Berkeley, and completed her undergraduate work at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Click here to watch Inc. Insider’s Special Edition: Board of Directors to learn more about Arel’s experience as a leader both on and off Macy’s, Inc. Board of Directors.

Francis S. Blake has extensive leadership experience and expertise as a former chief executive officer and senior executive of large publicly-traded companies with global operations. He has an extensive background in strategy and general management of large organizations and significant knowledge of the retail consumer industry, supply chain, merchandising, customer service, growth initiatives, and evolving market practices. Blake has several years of valuable experience as a public company board member and expertise in finance, risk management, strategy and governance through his service on board committees.

Blake served as chairman of The Home Depot, Inc. from January 2007 until his retirement in February 2015, as chief executive officer of The Home Depot, Inc. from January 2007 to November 2014, and as vice chairman of The Home Depot, Inc. from October 2006 to January 2007. From 2002 to January 2007, Blake also held the position of executive vice president - Business Development and Corporate Operations of The Home Depot, Inc. In this position, Blake was responsible for the company's real estate, store construction, credit services, strategic business development, growth initiatives, and international and home services businesses.

Prior to his affiliation with The Home Depot, Blake served in a variety of executive positions at General Electric Company from 1992 to May 2001, including as senior vice president, Corporate Business Development in charge of all worldwide mergers, acquisitions and dispositions and identification of strategic growth opportunities. Blake has also held the title of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy from May 2001 to March 2002.

At Google, Boone is responsible for driving the company’s strategies and partnerships across a portfolio of the world’s largest global advertisers, spanning the tech, health, beauty and consumer packaged goods industries. Boone leads a team focused on large scale global strategic partnerships that deploy Google products and platforms to achieve breakthrough marketing results. Boone also serves as co-lead of the NYC office and a member of the company’s Global Business Hiring Committee.

Click here to watch Inc. Insider’s Special Edition: Board of Directors to learn more about Boone’s experience as a leader both on and off Macy’s, Inc. Board of Directors.

John A. Bryant has many years of leadership experience and expertise as a chief executive officer, chief financial officer, and senior executive of a large public company with global operations. He has extensive knowledge and expertise in accounting and financial matters, branded consumer products and consumer dynamics, crisis management, international markets, people management, the retail environment and strategy, and strategic planning. In addition, Bryant has several years of valuable experience as a public company board member. He was former chairman of the board of Kellogg Company from July 2014 to March 2018 and retired as president and chief executive officer of Kellogg Company in October 2017, having served in that role since January 2011.

Bryant was also a member of the board of Kellogg Company from July 2010 to March 2018. He has held various operating roles, including president Kellogg International, president Kellogg North America, and chief operating officer, Kellogg Company, from December 2006 through January 2011. Bryant served as chief financial officer of Kellogg Company from February 2002 until June 2004 and again from December 2006 through December 2009. He joined Kellogg Company in 1998 and was promoted during the next four years to a number of key financial and executive leadership roles. Bryant has also been a trustee of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation Trust since 2015.

Buchanan serves as CEO and as a member of the Board of The Michaels Companies, roles he has held since January 2020. Prior to Michaels, he served in various roles of increased leadership and responsibility at Walmart for nearly 11 years, culminating in his position as chief merchandising and chief operating officer for its U.S. eCommerce business. During his time at Walmart, Buchanan also served as chief merchant at Sam’s Club where he led a merchandising team and oversaw activities including assortment, private brand strategy, pricing, global sourcing, packaging, replenishment and supply chain. Earlier in his career, he spent three years at Dell where he held a variety of positions in finance, after spending five years at Accenture focused on the retail industry. Buchanan also serves as a Director at Tree House Foods. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and real estate as well as a Master of Business Administration from Baylor University.

Marie Chandoha brings more than 35 years in financial services and investment management. Most recently, she led Charles Schwab Investment Management’s product and technology transformation, building a high-performing organization and doubling the firm’s assets under management.

She previously served as president and CEO of Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., the investment management subsidiary of Charles Schwab Corporation, from 2010 until her retirement in 2019. Prior to that, Chandoha served as Global Head of Fixed Income Business at Barclay’s Global Investors, leading the global bond business comprising index, institutional active, ETF, and alternatives products, until its sale to BlackRock in 2009. She then remained at BlackRock until 2019 as Managing Director and Global Head of Fixed Income Portfolio Management. Chandoha also served as Co-Head and Senior Portfolio Manager of the Montgomery Fixed Income Division of Wells Fargo.

Before entering asset management, Chandoha held other roles in financial services, including leading the global fixed income and economics research team at Credit Suisse and as a senior bond strategist at Goldman Sachs. She currently serves as a director at State Street, where she serves on the Examining and Audit and Technology and Operations Committees. Chandoha is also vice chair of the California chapter of the Nature Conservancy and previously served as member of the Board of Governors and Executive Committee of the Investment Company Institute. She received a B.A. degree in economics from Harvard University.

Deirdre P. Connelly has many years of leadership experience and expertise as a senior executive of large publicly traded companies with global operations. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in strategy, operations, product development, brand marketing and merchandising. In addition, as a former human resources executive, Connelly also has valuable insight in managing a large-scale, diverse workforce. From February 2009 until her retirement in February 2015 she was president of North American Pharmaceuticals of GlaxoSmithKline, a global pharmaceutical company.

Before that, she was president of U.S. Operations of Eli Lilly and Company from June 2005 to January 2009. Connelly also served as the senior vice president of Human Resources of Eli Lilly and Company from October 2004 to June 2005. From 2003 to October 2004 she was the executive director, Human Resources of U.S. Operations of Eli Lilly and Company. She has also been Leader of Women's Health Business - U.S. Operations of Eli Lilly and Company from 2001 to 2003.

Click here to watch Inc. Insider’s Special Edition: Board of Directors to learn more about Connelly’s experience as a leader both on and off Macy’s, Inc. Board of Directors.

Jeff Gennette was elected chief executive officer of Macy's, Inc. in March 2017 and assumed the role of chairman in February 2018. Gennette previously held the role of president of Macy's, Inc. from 2014 through August 2017. Prior to that, he was the chief merchandising officer of Macy's, Inc., a position to which he was appointed in February 2009.

Gennette began his retail career in 1983 as an executive trainee at Macy's West in San Francisco. He held positions of increasing responsibility, including vice president and division merchandise manager for men's collections, and senior vice president and general merchandise manager for men's and children's. In 2004, Gennette was appointed executive vice president and director of stores at Macy's Central in Atlanta. During his career, he also served as a store manager for FAO Schwarz and director of stores for Broadway Stores, Inc. From February 2006 to February 2008, Gennette served as chairman and chief executive officer of Seattle-based Macy's Northwest. Gennette returned to San Francisco from February 2008 to February 2009 as chairman and CEO of Macy's West.

Gennette was appointed to the Partnership For New York City Board & Executive Committee in December 2016.

In January 2018, Gennette joined the National Retail Federation Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Subsequently, in January 2019, Gennette was appointed Chairman of the NRF Foundation Board of Directors, and in June 2019 joined the NRF Finance Committee.

As of July 2020, Gennette also serves on the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Task Force and the Governing Committee for Racial Equity.

Gennette, a native of San Diego, is a graduate of Stanford University.

Jill Granoff has 30 years of experience leading and growing consumer-driven companies, with significant expertise as a strategist and brand builder in the retail, beauty and fashion industries. She serves as managing partner of Eurazeo, a leading global investment group with a diversified portfolio of $34 billion in assets under management, and the chief executive officer of Eurazeo’s Brands division. She is responsible for leading investment activities and overseeing the performance of the firm’s Brands portfolio globally, and is currently chairman of Nest New York and a director at Bandier and Jaanuu.

Prior to joining Eurazeo, Granoff served as chief executive officer of Vince Holding Corp., where she led the company’s IPO in 2013. She also previously held the chief executive officer role at Kellwood Company and Kenneth Cole Productions, and held executive positions at Estée Lauder, Victoria’s Secret and Liz Claiborne, where she had global responsibility for Kate Spade, Juicy Couture and Lucky Brand. She has also served on the boards of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Demandware, Cosmetic Executive Women and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Granoff is a long-standing member of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women and has received numerous awards for her visionary leadership. She received her M.B.A. from Columbia Business School, where she was awarded the Lawrence A. Wien fellowship for academic excellence, and her bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Duke University.

Click here to watch Inc. Insider’s Special Edition: Board of Directors to learn more about Granoff’s experience as a leader both on and off Macy’s, Inc. Board of Directors.

Leslie D. Hale has many years of leadership experience and expertise as a senior executive of large public companies. She has extensive knowledge and experience in a wide range of financial disciplines, including corporate finance, treasury, real estate, and business development. In addition, through her positions with RLJ Lodging Trust, General Electric and Goldman Sachs, Hale also has expertise in investor relations, risk management, long-term strategic planning and mergers, and acquisitions.

Hale has served as president and chief executive officer of RLJ Lodging Trust, a publicly traded lodging real estate investment trust, since August 2018. From August 2016 to August 2018 she was executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer and from February 2013 to July 2016 she was the chief financial officer, treasurer, and executive vice president of RLJ Lodging Trust. Before that, Hale was the chief financial officer, treasurer, and senior vice president of RLJ Lodging Trust from May 2011 through January 2013. She has also held the title of chief financial officer and senior vice president of Real Estate and Finance of RLJ Development from September 2007 until the formation of RLJ Lodging Trust in 2011. From 2006 to September 2007 she was the vice president of Real Estate and Finance for RLJ Development. And she was also the director of Real Estate and Finance of RLJ Development from 2005 to 2006.

From 2002 to 2005, Hale held several positions within the global financial services divisions of General Electric Corp., including as a Vice President in the business development group of GE Commercial Finance, and as an associate director in the GE Real Estate strategic capital group. Prior to that, she was an investment banker at Goldman, Sachs & Co.

William H. Lenehan has many years of investment and leadership experience in the real estate industry, both in public companies and private assets. Specifically, Lenehan has relevant experience in monetizing real estate held by operating companies. Lenehan has several years of valuable experience as a public company executive and board member and expertise in strategy, finance, and corporate governance through his service on board committees. He has held the title of president and chief executive officer of Four Corners Property Trust, Inc., a real estate investment trust, since August 2015.

From June 2012 to 2014 he was special advisor to the board of directors of EVOQ Properties, Inc., an owner of a substantial portfolio of development assets in downtown Los Angeles, California. Lenehan was also interim chief executive officer of MI Developments, Inc. (now known as Granite Real Estate Investment Trust), a real estate operating company with a global net lease portfolio, from June 2011 to December 2011. Before that, he was an investment professional at Farallon Capital Management LLC, a global institutional asset management firm, from August 2001 to February 2011. At Farallon Capital Management, Lenehan was involved with numerous public and private equity investments in the real estate sector.

Sara Levinson has many years of leadership experience and expertise as a former senior executive of several major consumer-oriented companies in the publishing, entertainment, and sports licensing industries. She has extensive knowledge and expertise in marketing, merchandising and trademark licensing. In addition, she has expertise in social networking, e-commerce, and technology innovation. Levinson has several years of valuable experience as a public company board member and expertise in strategy, governance and executive compensation through her service on board committees.

Since April 2013, she has been the co-founder and a director of Katapult (formerly known as Kandu), a digital entertainment company making products for today's creative generation. She was also a non-executive chairman of ClubMom, Inc., an online social networking community for mothers, from October 2002 until February 2008. Levinson has also held the title of chairman and chief executive officer of ClubMom from May 2000 through September 2002.

She was president of the Women's Group of publisher Rodale, Inc. from October 2002 until June 2005. Additionally, Ms. Levinson was president of NFL Properties, Inc. from September 1994 through April 2000, where she oversaw a $2 billion consumer products and e-commerce division, corporate sponsorship, marketing, special events, club services, and publishing.

Click here to watch Inc. Insider’s Special Edition: Board of Directors to learn more about Levinson’s experience as a leader both on and off Macy’s, Inc. Board of Directors.

Paul C. Varga has many years of leadership experience and expertise as the chief executive officer of a global, publicly traded consumer products company. He has extensive knowledge and experience in corporate finance, strategy, building brand awareness, product development, marketing, distribution, and sales. In addition, Varga has several years of valuable experience as a public company board member.

He served as chairman of Brown-Forman Corporation, a spirits and wine company, from August 2007 to January 2019 and chief executive officer from 2005 to January 2019. From 2003 to 2005 he was president and chief executive officer of Brown-Forman Beverages (a division of Brown-Forman Corporation). He was also global chief marketing officer for Brown-Forman Spirits from 2000 to 2003.

Click here to watch Inc. Insider’s Special Edition: Board of Directors to learn more about Varga’s experience as a leader both on and off Macy’s, Inc. Board of Directors.

Zhen has nearly two decades of experience in the consumer technology industry, including senior management roles at Zipcar, TripAdvisor and Expedia overseeing business strategy, finance, operations, product development and marketing. She served as president of Zipcar from 2017 to 2022, where she led all facets of the business. At TripAdvisor, she held numerous general management roles including as Vice President of Housetrip, a European vacation rental brand, Vice President of Vacation Rental Supply and Vice President and General Manager of FlipKey, an online vacation rental marketplace. Prior to that, Zhen spent five years at Expedia including as General Manager of emerging markets and strategy, leading international business growth in Europe and strategic partnerships, as well as Finance Director. She serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Mass Technology Leadership Council and on the Advisory Board of the Taubman Center at the Harvard Kennedy School. Zhen earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Information Systems at New York University’s Stern School of Business.