Board of Directors

George Carrara was appointed to our Board of Directors on July 26, 2019.  He is the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Kate Spade & Company, a formerly publicly traded operator of global, multichannel lifestyle brands (“Kate Spade”) (formerly Liz Claiborne Inc. and Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc.), serving in this role from February 2014 to December 2017 when the company was sold to Coach, Inc. Mr. Carrara oversaw strategy and business development, investor relations, supply chain, e-commerce, finance, global operations and information technology. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Kate Spade from April 2012 to February 2014. He worked for Tommy Hilfiger North America from 1999 through the sale of the company in 2011 and served in various senior positions, including as Chief Operating Officer from 2006 to 2011; Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations - Wholesale and Retail from 2004 to 2005; Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of wholesale operations from 2003 to 2004; and Chief Financial Officer for various wholesale divisions from 1999 to 2003.  Prior to that, Mr. Carrara served as Chief Financial and Operating Officer for Mirage Apparel Group. He began his career in the Entrepreneurial Services & Consumer Product Groups at Price Waterhouse, is a Certified Public Accountant and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Economics from the Wharton School. Since departing Kate Spade, Mr. Carrara has served in various advisory roles in the retail, fashion and e-commerce sectors.  In early 2024, George co-founded k4 Partners LLC, for the purpose of identifying, acquiring and scaling a fashion brand and, to date, has performed due diligence on several targets.  Additionally, between summer 2022 and spring of 2024 George served on the advisory board of Zliide Technologies ApS, a privately owned provider of retail self-checkout and instant omni- inventory systems.  He also recently served as a strategic advisor to Stigmi Learning, an on-demand secondary school tutoring platform in the start-up phase.

Throughout his career, Mr. Carrara has obtained extensive operational as well as commercial, financial and accounting expertise and leveraged these skills to manage transformations and create shareholder value. During his tenure as President and Chief Operating Officer of Kate Spade, he gained expertise in store operations, digital, supply chain, investor relations, international expansion, business development and strategic planning. In various senior finance and operations roles prior to that, Mr. Carrara obtained extensive financial planning, treasury, technology, logistics and accounting experience.  Mr. Carrara qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under applicable SEC rules. In addition, given his experience with other consumer-focused businesses, Mr. Carrara provides valuable insights and perspectives regarding the financing and operation of the Company’s business.
 

James A. Goldman was appointed to our Board of Directors on February 10, 2026.  Mr. Goldman has served on the Board of Directors of Domino’s Pizza, Inc., a global restaurant and pizza company, since March 2010, where he is a member of the Audit Committee. In addition, Mr. Goldman serves on the Board of Directors of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., where he is a member of the Compensation Committee and Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. Mr. Goldman currently serves on three portfolio company Boards representing Eurazeo SE, a global investment firm listed on the Paris Stock Exchange, including Q Mixers, a leading premium carbonated mixer brand, Waterloo Sparkling Water Corp., a carbonated beverage company, and Dewey’s Bakery, a premium baked goods company. Mr. Goldman also works with the private equity firm Frontenac as a Senior Advisor and Chairman1st Partner.

Mr. Goldman served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors of Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. from 2004 to 2014. Mr. Goldman was President of the Food and Beverage Division at Campbell Soup Company from 2001 to 2004 and served in various executive positions at Nabisco, Inc. from 1992 to 2000. Prior to his work at Nabisco, Mr. Goldman was a senior consulting associate at McKinsey & Company, Inc.

Mr. Goldman previously served on the Board of Directors of The Children’s Place, Inc. He also served on the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of Save the Children in Fairfield, CT, the Executive Board of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, and the Board of Trustees at the YMCA Camps Becket and Chimney Corners in Becket, MA.

J. Christopher Hurt was appointed to the Board of Directors effective as of June 11, 2026, in connection with his employment as Chief Executive Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Mr. Hurt joined the Company in 2015 as Chief Operations Officer, and, from June 2020 until June 11, 2026, served as Chief Operations and Experience Officer. Much of his tenure with the Company has focused on restructuring the organization’s largest business unit, the global retail management and operations team, including guest experience, real estate, build-out, and logistics. Since 2024, Mr. Hurt has shifted his operational and consumer-insight expertise to redefine the brand, merchandising, marketing and licensing areas of the Company’s business where he has further expanded consumer segments and categories through product expansion and engaging brand initiatives. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hurt was at American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. from 2002 to 2015 in various senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President of North America, Vice President/General Manager of the Factory stores, Zone Vice President and Regional Director. Prior to that, Mr. Hurt held positions of increasing responsibility at Polo Ralph Lauren after starting his career at The Procter & Gamble Company. In his various executive management positions, Mr. Hurt has gained extensive experience in retail operations, merchandising, branding, marketing and licensing. Mr. Hurt provides Build-A-Bear Workshop with highly relevant and valuable insights and perspectives in leading retail businesses, strategic planning, and brand initiatives.

Narayan Iyengar was appointed to our Board of Directors on November 30, 2021. He has a wide background in digital, technology and business transformation. From March 2022 to June 2023, Mr. Iyengar served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of DISH Network Corporation, a publicly traded provider of television entertainment and technology through satellite and streaming services, where he oversaw key business operations including customer experience, in-home services, billing and credit, and manufacturing and distribution. His areas of focus include digital transformation, omnichannel customer journeys and accelerating strategic initiatives.  Earlier in his career, he served as the Senior Vice President, Digital and E-Commerce of Albertsons Companies, a leading food and drug retailer, from 2017 to 2020, where he led the digital transformation and launched various e-commerce and omnichannel offerings, expanded the loyalty program and enhanced the digital experience. Prior to that, from 2013 to 2017, he served as Vice President, E Commerce and Digital Analytics of The Walt Disney Company, a multinational entertainment and media conglomerate, where he led the growth of e-commerce channel for Walt Disney’s theme parks, resorts, cruise lines and guided family adventures. From 2005 to 2013, Mr. Iyengar was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, and served global clients on topics related to business technology and digital transformation. Mr. Iyengar has also served on the boards, as an advisor and as interim executive at a number of privately held firms. He holds a Master of Business Administration, Management from Columbia University Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering from University of Mysore, India.

Mr. Iyengar has extensive operational and e-commerce experience, and he has helped numerous companies in a variety of industries formulate and implement innovative digital transformation strategies.  Mr. Iyengar brings to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Board of Directors valuable and relevant insights regarding digital, sales, marketing and other strategic and operational matters.

Richard Johnson was appointed to our Board of Directors on March 5, 2025. Mr. Johnson retired as Chief Executive Officer and President of Foot Locker, Inc., a leading publicly held global athletic footwear and apparel retailer (“Foot Locker”), in September 2022. He continued to serve as Executive Chairman of the Board of Foot Locker until January 2023. Mr. Johnson had served as CEO and President of Foot Locker since December 2014, and as Chairman of the Board since May 2016. Prior to becoming CEO and President, he served in a variety of other leadership roles across the globe with Foot Locker. Earlier in his career, Mr. Johnson was a transportation economics manager at Graebel Van Lines, Inc. and he worked for Electronic Data Systems, an IT services company, as a systems engineer. Mr. Johnson currently serves on the Board of Directors of Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a publicly traded auto parts company, and H&R Block, Inc., a publicly traded tax preparation company. He served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Retail Industry Leaders Association and on the Board of Directors of The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. Mr. Johnson currently serves on the Chancellor’s National Leadership Council at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, and previously served as a Save the Children Trustee and representative on the Save the Children – Head Start Board. Mr. Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Accountancy from the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. During his career, including service as the Chief Executive Officer of Foot Locker, Mr. Johnson gained extensive knowledge of both brick and mortar and digital/dot.com retail operations, and he developed significant leadership, operations, financial management, and enterprise risk management experience. Mr. Johnson qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” as such term is defined under applicable SEC rules. As a member of the Board of Directors of other publicly traded and private companies, he has gained highly relevant corporate governance experience.

Craig Leavitt was appointed to the Board of Directors on January 4, 2018 and serves as our Non-Executive Chairman.  He served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Kate Spade & Company, a formerly publicly traded operator of global, multichannel lifestyle brands (“Kate Spade”), from February 2014 until August 2017 when the company was sold to Coach, Inc.  From October 2010 until February 2014, he was Chief Executive Officer of Kate Spade New York, a division of Fifth & Pacific Companies, Inc.  Mr. Leavitt also served as Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of Kate Spade, LLC from April 2008 through October 2010. Prior to joining Kate Spade, LLC, Mr. Leavitt was President of Global Retail at Link Theory Holdings, where he had total responsibility for merchandising, operations, planning, allocation and real estate for the Theory and Helmut Lang retail businesses. Previously, Mr. Leavitt spent several years at Diesel, S.p.A., an Italian retail clothing company, having most recently served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Retail. Mr. Leavitt also spent 16 years at Polo Ralph Lauren, where he held positions of increasing responsibility, the last being Executive Vice President of Retail Concepts. Since leaving Kate Spade, Mr. Leavitt devotes his time to service on Boards of Directors. Mr. Leavitt serves on the Board of Directors of HDS Global, a grocery and general merchandise e-commerce delivery service.  Until recently, Mr. Leavitt served on the Board of Directors of Gildan Activewear, Inc., a publicly traded manufacturer of apparel; Mattress Firm, Inc., an omni-channel mattress specialty retailer; Crate & Barrel Holdings, Inc., a company that owns and operates housewares, furniture and home accessories stores in North America and through franchisees internationally; and NEST Fragrances, LLC, a distributor of home scents, eau de parfums, and fragranced body care products.  He also served on the Board of Directors of The Roundabout Theater Company, one of the largest nonprofit theatre companies in the United States. Mr. Leavitt holds a Bachelor of Arts from Franklin & Marshall College. Mr. Leavitt resides in New York.

During his career in the retail industry, Mr. Leavitt has gained extensive experience in the areas of strategic planning, product development and innovation, marketing, store operations, and real estate. His background, including his service as Chief Executive Officer and Director of a publicly traded company, allows him to provide to our Board of Directors insights and perspectives regarding strategic planning, leadership, stockholder relations, business operations, brand management, marketing, and business development.

Sharon John was appointed to the Board of Directors on June 3, 2013 in connection with her current employment as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. She retired from this position effective June 11, 2026, but will remain on the board. From January 2010 through May 2013, Ms. John served as President of Stride Rite Children’s Group LLC, a division of Wolverine World Wide, Inc., which designs and markets footwear for children. From 2002 through 2009, she held positions of broadened portfolio and increased responsibility at Hasbro, Inc., a multinational toy and board game company, including as General Manager & Senior Vice President of its U.S. Toy Division from 2006 to 2008 and General Manager & Senior Vice President of its Global Preschool unit from June 2008 through 2009. Ms. John also founded and served as Chief Executive Officer of Checkerboard Toys, served as Vice President, U.S. Toy Division with VTech Industries, Inc., and served in a range of roles at Mattel, Inc. She started her career in advertising, overseeing accounts such as Hershey’s and the Snickers/M&M Mars business. During 2014 and ending in 2025, Ms. John served on the Board of Directors of Jack in the Box Inc., a publicly traded restaurant company. Ms. John holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University. She is married with three children and resides in St. Louis, Missouri. In her various executive management positions, Ms. John gained extensive experience in all aspects of retail branding, including children's brands, marketing to moms and kids, and licensing, product development and innovation expertise. With this background, Ms. John provides Build-A-Bear Workshop with highly relevant and valuable insights and perspectives in leading businesses, strategic planning, brand building, marketing, licensing, merchandising, and retail operations.

Lesli Rotenberg was appointed to our Board of Directors on November 30, 2021. Ms. Rotenberg is the former Chief Programming Executive & General Manager, Children’s Media & Education of the Public Broadcasting Service (“PBS”), an American public media organization and distributor of television and digital content, serving in that role from February 2016 to June 2021. She was responsible for the strategic direction of an innovative, dynamic media service to meet the needs of America’s children, parents, and teachers. While at PBS, she also served as General Manager, Children’s Programming from 2005 to 2016 and as Senior Vice President, Marketing & Communications from 2000 to 2016. Prior to that, Ms. Rotenberg served for ten years at Discovery Communications, Inc. in a variety of senior level management positions with strategic responsibilities for positioning The Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet media brands to consumers, advertisers, cable affiliates and promotion partners. Currently, she is the founder and CEO of Unlock Inspiration, a leadership development and executive coaching LLC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Boston University School of Public Communication.

Throughout her career, Ms. Rotenberg developed extensive experience regarding entertainment content creation and distribution, business development, brand management, marketing, digital content, media and strategic planning.  With this experience, she provides our Board of Directors with valuable insights and perspectives regarding entertainment, marketing, brand management and other strategic and operational matters.