Sector: Consumer Discretionary
Director information for DESIGNER BRANDS INC CLASS A (data for year 2026)
| Name | Position | Age | Qualifications and Experience | Committee Memberships | Filing Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan J. Tanenbaum | Of Counsel to Taylor English Duma, LLC; Independent Director | 79 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Of Counsel to Taylor English Duma, LLC since 2014","General Counsel and Managing Partner of Equicorp Partners, LLC since 2006","Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for AFC Enterprises, Inc. from 2001 to 2005","shareholder in Cohen Pollock Merlin Axelrod & Tanenbaum, P.C. from 1996 to 2001","member of the board of directors of Medallion Financial Corporation since 2017","Chair of Medallion's compensation committee","member of Medallion's nominating and corporate governance committee and investment oversight committee","joined the board of directors of Newman’s Own, Inc. in 2025"] | ["AC","NCGC","Audit Committee"] | 2026 |
| Andrea O’Donnell | Executive Vice President and President, Brands | [] | [] | 2026 | |
| Deborah L. Ferrée | Vice Chair, Chief Product Officer of Designer Brands Inc. | 72 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Crisis Management Experience","Chief Product Officer of Designer Brands since February 2023","Vice Chair of the Company since January 2006","Numerous leadership roles since joining in November 1997","President of Camuto LLC from June 2021 to February 2023","President of Designer Brands from February 2019 until June 2021","Vice Chair and Chief Merchandising Officer from January 2006 until February 2019","President and Chief Merchandising Officer from November 2004 until January 2006","Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer from March 2002 until November 2004","Senior Vice President of Merchandising beginning in September 2000","Vice President of Merchandising beginning in November 1997","Over 20 years in retail industry with various positions"] | [] | 2026 |
| Douglas M. Howe | CEO of Designer Brands Inc.; Chief Executive Officer | 65 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Crisis Management Experience","Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Experience","CEO since April 1, 2023","Interim President of DSW Shoe Warehouse, Inc. from April 2023 to July 2023","Executive Vice President of Designer Brands Inc. since 2022","Chief Merchandising Officer at Kohl’s Corporation from 2018 to 2022","Global Chief Merchandising Officer at Qurate Retail Group from 2015 to 2018","various leadership positions in merchandising, design, product development, and planning at Old Navy, Walmart Inc., and May Department Stores Company"] | [] | 2026 |
| Elaine J. Eisenman | Managing Director of Saeje Advisors LLC; Independent Director | 77 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Crisis Management Experience","Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Experience","Managing Director of Saeje Advisors LLC","Dean of Executive and Enterprise Education at Babson College","Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration at The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.","Senior executive positions at American Express Company","Senior executive positions at Enhance Financial Services Co.","Chairperson of the board of the Private Directors Association","Founding member and Co-Chair of the Boston chapter of the Women Corporate Directors Foundation","Chairperson of the compensation committee of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates","Expertise in executive selection, compensation, and succession planning"] | ["HCCC","AC","HCCC (Chair)","Audit Committee"] | 2026 |
| Harvey L. Sonnenberg | Former Partner of Weiser, LLP; Independent Director | 84 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Corporate Governance Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","partner in the certified public accounting firm Weiser, LLP from 1994 to 2009","served in the United States Army and National Guard from 1964 to 1970","member of Council in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants","Vice President and Chairman of committees in the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants","long-term involvement in audit, accounting, and consulting services to the retail industry","a director of Retail Ventures, Inc. from 2001 until 2011","certified public accountant","partner-in-charge of Sarbanes-Oxley and Corporate Governance practice","Audit Committee Financial Expert under applicable SEC rules"] | ["AC","TC","ACTC","Audit Committee","Technology Committee"] | 2026 |
| Jay L. Schottenstein | Executive Chairman of Designer Brands Inc. and CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | 71 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Executive Chairman since 2005","Former CEO from 2005 to 2009","Chairman of American Eagle since 1992","CEO of Schottenstein Stores Corporation since 1992","Extensive experience as chairman and CEO"] | [] | 2026 |
| Joanna T. Lau | Former CEO of Lau Technologies Inc.; Independent Director; Chair | 67 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Corporate Governance Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Experience","Coach and consultant","Founder of the Women for Women Summit","Leadership positions at General Electric and Digital Equipment Company","Expertise in initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, cybersecurity, and risk management","Experience in the biometric security and software industries","Prior services on the boards of RPT Realty, Info Soft, FSI International, ITT Education Services and TD Banknorth"] | ["TC","HCCC","NCGC","TC (Chair)","NCG","CHCCC","Technology Committee"] | 2026 |
| Joanne Zaiac | Former Chief Client Officer of Dentsu International; Independent Director | 64 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","Crisis Management Experience","Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Experience","Consultant at Grace Blue Partnership","Former Chief Client Officer at Dentsu","Former Chief Operating Officer at Digitas North America","Extensive experience in brand-building and marketing"] | ["HCCC","TC","HCCCTC","Technology Committee"] | 2026 |
| John W. Atkinson | Former Audit Partner at KPMG; Chair | 61 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","Audit Committee Financial Expert","International Experience","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Corporate Governance Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Cybersecurity Experience","Audit Partner of KPMG","Independent consultant for KPMG","Over 35 years of experience as an audit professional","Extensive financial expertise and experience relating to financial reporting","Financially literate under applicable NYSE rules"] | ["AC","NCGC","AC (Chair)","Audit Committee"] | 2026 |
| Joseph A. Schottenstein | Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Leasing at Schottenstein Property Group (“SPG”) and Schottenstein Realty LLC; Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Leasing | 46 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Acquisitions and Leasing at SPG and Schottenstein Realty LLC","Management of Raconteur Fine Wines LLC","Experience in property management at SPG","Co-Manager of Indigo Nation, LLC","Served on the board of Mayacamas Vineyards"] | [] | 2026 |
| Mark A. Haley | Senior Vice President, Controller, Principal Accounting Officer and Interim Principal Financial Officer | [] | [] | 2026 | |
| Peter S. Cobb | Founder and Former Executive Vice President of eBags; Independent Director | 68 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Marketing and Consumer Insight","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Corporate Governance Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","Sustainability/Corporate Social Responsibility Experience","co-founder of eBags in 1998","Executive Vice President and board member of eBags before its acquisition in 2017","co-founded 6pm.com","Director of Marketing at Samsonite from 1990 to 1996","served on the board of directors at the National Retail Federation","Chairman of Shop.org","served on the board of PetMed Express, Inc. from 2021 to 2023","frequent speaker on trends in the retail industry"] | ["NCGC","HCCC","TC","NCGC (Chair)","HCCCTC","Technology Committee"] | 2026 |
| Richard A. Paul | CEO and Founder of KLUTCH Sports Group; Independent Director | 45 | ["Leadership Experience","Retail Industry Experience","Financial Expertise","International Experience","Strategic Growth and Business Development Expertise","Human Capital/Talent Management Experience","Risk Management Expertise","Corporate Governance Expertise","Real Estate Experience","Mergers & Acquisitions Experience","Other Public Company Board Experience","CEO and founder of KLUTCH Sports Group","Head of Sports at United Talent Agency","Co-founder of ADOPT","Board member of LACMA and Live Nation Entertainment"] | [] | 2026 |
