Ascena adds to board

Ascena Retail Group has confirmed the retirement of Randy Pearce and has appointed Kate Buggeln as lead independent director and Carrie Teffner as a member of its board of directors.

Effective immediately, Ascena has named Buggeln as lead independent director, with Buggeln being a member of the brand’s board since 2004. Buggeln succeeds Pearce, whose retirement the business also confirmed.

Currently, Buggeln is chair of Ascena’s leadership and corporate governance committee and also serves on its audit committee. In her new role, Buggeln will lead executive sessions of the independent directors and serve as liaison between the independent directors and the chairman of the board.

“I am incredibly proud that Ascena's independent directors have asked me to serve in this role,” said Buggeln, in a press release. “I look forward to leveraging their considerable talents, my Board history and knowledge in service of our stockholders.”

“We are grateful for Randy’s leadership over the past 13 years,” said David Jaffe, chairman and chief executive officer of Ascena, in a press release. “We are thrilled to have Kate assume this new lead role. Her background in strategic planning, marketing and new business development has been invaluable to us. That expertise, combined with Kate’s deep knowledge of Ascena, will serve us well moving forward.”

Before joining Ascena, Buggeln previously worked as the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Coach, Inc. and has also worked for LakeWest Group Ltd. and Coopers & Lybrand.

Ascena has also appointed Carrie Teffner as a member of its board. Teffner, who is currently the executive vice president of finance and strategic projects at Crocs, will fill Pearce’s role on the board in the role of chair of the audit committee and within the compensation and stock incentive committee.

“I am honored to join Ascena’s talented and diverse Board and I look forward to leveraging my experience with leading consumer brands to deliver value to ascena’s shareholders,” said Teffner.

With this appointment, six of Ascena’s 11 board members are women.

Ascena adds to board

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