AEO Board of Directors

Board of Directors

BOARD RECOGNITION

NACD Public Company Board of the Year (2021)

Three Rivers Chapter

Noel Spiegel, Lead Independent Director, named as a
National Association of Corporate Directors Top 100

AEO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jay Schottenstein

Executive Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer

Since 1992, Jay has been a visionary leader for American Eagle Outfitters. Together, with his father Jerome Schottenstein, the two forged a path that led to the evolution of AEO from a single brand company, to a multi-brand global business. Jay has been instrumental in the successful growth of American Eagle and the launch of the Aerie brand, and has built a strong foundation for AEO’s leading market position.

Jay returned to AEO as Chief Executive Officer in 2014, a position he previously held from 1992 to 2002.

He has served as AEO’s Chairman of the Board continuously since 1992, and he remains one of our largest shareholders. Jay’s expertise across apparel merchandising, operations, retail, real estate, brand development and team management provides valuable leadership and vision for the company.

Jay also serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Schottenstein Stores Corporation. He currently is Chairman of the Board of DSW Inc., a leading footwear and accessories retailer, and previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer from 2005 to 2009.

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Sujatha Chandrasekaran

Independent Director

Suja has been a Director of the Company since March 2018. She serves on the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating, Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Committees. Suja is the former Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Digital and Information Officer at CommonSpirit Health where she led tech and digital transformation. She previously held the role of head of digital and information technologies at Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

She led the company wide digital transformation efforts across business and technology at Kimberly-Clark. Prior to that Suja served as SVP, Chief Technology and Data Officer at Walmart Inc. She has also led digital, business transformation and eCommerce at The Timberland Company, PepsiCo and Nestlé SA in C-level global roles. Suja holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Madras, India and a Master of Business Systems from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. She has executive development education from London Business School. With more than 25 years of experience in technology and leadership roles, Suja brings vast information and digital technology expertise and a wealth of leadership experience in the global retail and consumer industries to the Board.

Deborah A. Henretta

Independent Director

Deb has been a Director of the Company since February 2019. She serves on the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating, Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility Committees. Deb is a partner at Council Advisors (formerly G100 Companies) where she assisted in establishing a Board Excellence program that provides director education on board oversight and governance responsibilities, including in the areas of digital transformation and cybersecurity, as well as a partnership program for New Director Training.

Throughout her 30 years at P&G, Deb held various senior positions throughout several sectors, serving as Group President of Global e-Commerce, which included serving as Head of Global Beauty Care; and Division Vice President of Fabric Conditioners and Bleach. She retired from Proctor & Gamble, Co. (‘P&G’) in 2015. Deb graduated summa sum laude from St. Bonaventure University with a BA in communications in 1983. She earned her MA in advertising research and teaching assistantship from Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications in 1985.

Other Public Company Board Service: Deb has served on the Board of Directors, Audit Committee and Corporate Relations Committee of Corning, Inc. since 2013 and on the Board of Directors and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee of Meritage Homes Corporation since 2016. She also has served on the Board of Directors, Compensation Committee, Environmental Safety and Sustainability Committee and Finance Committee of NiSource Inc. since 2015. Deb was formerly on the Board of Directors at Staples, Inc. from 2016 to September 2017 when Staples was acquired by Sycamore Partners, a private equity investor.

Cary D. McMillan

Independent Director

Cary has been a Director of the Company since June 2007. He is Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Cary has served as Chief Executive Officer of True Partners Consulting, LLC, a professional services firm providing tax and other financial services, since December 2005. From October 2001 to April 2004, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Sara Lee Branded Apparel. Cary served as Executive Vice President of Sara Lee Corporation, a branded consumer packaged goods company, from January 2000 to April 2004. From November 1999 to December 2001, he served as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Sara Lee Corporation. Prior, Cary served as an audit partner with Arthur Anderson LLP.

He holds a BS from the University of Illinois and is a Certified Public Accountant. Cary brings to the Board demonstrated leadership abilities as a Chief Executive Officer and an understanding of business, both domestically and internationally. His experience as a former audit partner also provides him with extensive knowledge of financial and accounting issues. Cary’s service on other public boards also provides knowledge of best practices.

Other Public Company Board Service: Cary also serves on the Board of Directors, Audit Committee and Finance Committee of Hyatt Corporation since 2013. He was formerly on the Board of Directors of McDonald’s Corporation from 2003 to May 2015, Hewitt Associates, Inc. from 2002 to 2010 and Sara Lee Corporation from 2000-2004.

Janice E. Page

Independent Director

Janice has served as a Director of the Company since June 2004. She is Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. Prior to her retirement in 1997, Janice spent 27 years in apparel retailing holding numerous merchandising, marketing and operating positions with Sears Roebuck & Company,(“Sears”) including Group Vice President from 1992 to 1997. While at Sears, Janice oversaw men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, as well as athletic footwear and accessories, among other responsibilities. She holds a BA from Pennsylvania State University. Janice has extensive knowledge of the apparel retail industry and brings in-depth experience across diverse consumer product categories as well as retail operations. Her service on other public company boards allows her to provide the Board of Directors with a variety of perspectives on corporate governance issues.

Other Public Company Board Service: Janice served as a Director and Compensation Committee Chair of R.G. Barry Corporation from 2000 to 2014. She served as a Director and Nominating and Governance Committee Chair of Hampshire Group, Limited from 2009 to 2011. She was formerly on the Board of Kellwood Company and served on the Executive Committee and as a Compensation Committee Chair from 2000 to 2008. Janice also served from 2001 to 2004 as Trustee of Glimcher Realty Trust.

David M. Sable

Independent Director

David has served as a Director of the Company since 2013. He is a member of the Audit and Compensation and Nominating Committees. David currently serves as a Senior Advisor to WPP plc, a multinational communications, advertising, public relations, technology, and commerce holding company (“WPP”), mentoring and consulting across the company. Previously he was Chairman of VMLY&R. He propelled Y&R to a top-five global creative firm at Cannes, developed new resources and practices, expanded the global footprint of subsidiary company VML, and ultimately helped unify Y&R and VML into VMLY&R.

Prior to his time at Y&R, Mr. Sable served at Wunderman, Inc., a leading customer relationship manager and digital unit of WPP Group, as Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, from August 2000 to February 2011. Mr. Sable was a Founding Partner and served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, from August 2000 to February 2011. Mr. Sable serves on the U.S. Fund for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF’s) National Board, is a past Chair of the Ad Council’s Board of Directors, is an executive board member of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), and sits on the International Board of the Special Olympics.

A frequent keynote speaker and author, Mr. Sable is a designated LinkedIn Influencer, where he ranks among the most widely read business leaders in the world. With more than 30 years of experience in digital leadership and marketing communications, Mr. Sable brings to the Board his strategic insight and ability to connect talent across marketing disciplines and geographies.

Noel J. Spiegel

Lead Independent Director

Noel has served as a Director of the Company since June 2011. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees. Noel was a partner at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where he practiced from September 1969 until his retirement in May 2010. In his over 40 year career at Deloitte, he served in numerous management positions, including as Deputy Managing Partner, member of the Executive Committee, Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Transaction Assurance practice, Global Offerings and IFRS practice and Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice (Northeast Region), and as Partner-in-Charge of Audit Operations in Deloitte’s New York Office.

He holds a BS from Long Island University and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Noel provides expertise in public company accounting, disclosure and financial system management to the Board and more specifically to the Audit Committee.

Other Public Company Board Service: Noel has also served on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of vTv Therapeutics Inc. since 2015 and on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee, Credit Committee and Finance Investment Committee of Radian Group, Inc. since 2011. He was formerly on the Board of Directors, Audit Committee and Compensation Committee of Vringo, Inc. from 2013 to 2016.