Management Team

Timothy (“Tim”) Baxter has served as our Chief Executive Officer since June 2019. Prior to joining Express, Mr. Baxter was Chief Executive Officer of Delta Galil Premium Brands, a group of specialty retail apparel brands including 7 For All Mankind and Splendid. Prior to that, he held numerous leadership positions at Macy’s from 2006 to 2017 including Chief Merchandising Officer from 2015 to 2017 and Executive Vice President, General Merchandise Manager from 2013 for 2015. Mr. Baxter started his career with Famous-Barr and May Department Stores, where he held positions of increasing responsibility from 1992 to 2006.

Matthew C. (“Matt”) Moellering has served as President and Chief Operating Officer since September 2019. He also served as Interim President and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Express from January 2019 to June 2019. Prior to his current role, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2011 to 2019; Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary from 2009 to 2011; Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary from 2007 to 2009; and Vice President of Finance from 2006 to 2007. Before joining Express, he served in various roles with Limited Brands from 2003 to 2006, including Vice President of Financial Planning. Mr. Moellering also served in various roles with Procter & Gamble where he was employed from 1995 until 2003, and prior to that was an officer in the United States Army. Mr. Moellering serves on the board of directors of L.L.Bean, Inc. which is a privately held company.

Malissa Akay has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer since September 2019. She joined Express from Lane Bryant where she was Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager from 2016 to 2019. Previously, she was with Ralph Lauren from 2012 to 2016 where she held global roles including Chief Merchandising Officer, Polo Accessories, and Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Planning & Allocation and Visual Merchandising. Prior to that, she spent 13 years with DFS Group where she held merchandising leadership positions across multiple categories.

Sara Tervo has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer since September 2019. She joined Express from Justice where she was Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer from 2016 to 2019. From 1998 to 2016, she held multiple leadership positions at L Brands across marketing, creative services and public relations, including Executive Vice President, Marketing for Victoria’s Secret and Senior Vice President, Marketing for PINK.

Jason Judd has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2022. Prior to his current role, he was Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance & Treasurer at Big Lots from October 2019 to March 2022. Previously, he was CFO of Justice at Retail Group from 2015 to 2019 and held leadership roles at L Brands from 2004 to 2015. Mr. Judd is a member of the Park National Bank board and Park National Corporate board.

Mike Reese has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer since April 2020. With more than 20 years of experience, Mike has held leadership roles at Hilton Grand Vacations and Starbucks. He and his team are focused on the Company’s talent and performance management, learning & development, rewards & benefits, and employee engagement programs. Mike introduced the first flexible work model to the Company in 2020. He also serves as the Chair of the Company's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Stewards team and led the creation of the Express DE&I charter.

Laurel Krueger joined Express in September 2021 as Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary. In this role, she guides the Company’s legal affairs, ethics, and compliance programs, and advises on all public and company governance matters. Krueger was previously Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Kontoor Brands, Inc. With more than 20 years of experience, she has held a variety of legal leadership roles in the retail and manufacturing space.