Ken C. Hicks has served as Chairman of the Board of Academy Sports and Outdoors since June 2020, and previously served as the Company's President & Chief Executive Officer from May 2018 to June 2023 and as Executive Chairman from June 2023 to May 2024. He brings nearly 40 years of retail leadership experience, including as Chairman, President and CEO of Foot Locker and senior roles at J.C. Penney, Payless ShoeSource and McKinsey & Company, and since October 2024 has served as President & CEO and a director of Petsmart.
Beryl C. Raff has served as an independent director since December 2021 and chairs the Board's Compensation Committee. She brings over 40 years of retail leadership, having served as CEO of Helzberg Diamonds from 2009 to 2022, as Executive Vice President and General Merchandise Manager at J.C. Penney, and as Chairman and CEO of Zales, and she currently serves on the board of Helen of Troy.
Jeff C. Tweedy has served as an independent director since October 2020 and sits on the Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees. He brings over 25 years of fashion and retail leadership, having served as CEO of Sean John Clothing from 2007 to 2021, and currently serves as Managing Director of BMBIRD Consultant.
Brian T. Marley has served as an independent director since June 2020 and chairs the Board's Audit Committee. He spent over 20 years in retail finance, including as Executive Vice President and CFO of Belk from 2000 to 2013, following a 20-year public accounting career as an audit partner at KPMG, and is Founder and Managing Partner of Marley Associates LLC.
Tom M. Nealon has served as a director since March 2021 and as Lead Independent Director since December 2021. He previously served as President of Southwest Airlines from 2017 to 2021, as Group Executive Vice President at J.C. Penney, and in senior roles at Frito-Lay, bringing extensive retail, technology and eCommerce experience.
Wendy A. Beck has served as an independent director since December 2020 and chairs the Board's Nominating & Governance Committee. She brings over 25 years of financial leadership, having served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Norwegian Cruise Line from 2010 to 2018 and of Domino's Pizza from 2008 to 2010, is a Certified Public Accountant, and currently serves on the board of Traeger.
Michael Dastugue has served as an independent director since December 2025 and serves on the Board's Audit Committee. He brings over 30 years of public-company financial leadership, most recently as CFO of Hanesbrands from 2021 to 2023 and previously as Executive Vice President and CFO of Walmart US from 2015 to 2021, of Sam's Club, and of J.C. Penney.
Shannon Hennessy has served as an independent director since December 2025. She has served as CEO of Habit Burger & Grill since June 2023, previously served as Chief Financial Officer of KFC Global from 2020 to 2022, and spent nearly 20 years as a consultant with McKinsey & Company serving consumer-facing industries.
Clay M. Johnson has served as an independent director since December 2025. He brings over 25 years of digital and technology leadership, having served as Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Yum! Brands from 2019 to 2024, as CIO and Executive Vice President of Global Business Services at Walmart from 2017 to 2019, and as CIO at GE Power and GE Digital.
Theresa Palermo has served as an independent director since July 2022 and serves on the Board's Nominating & Governance Committee. She brings over 20 years of retail marketing leadership, currently as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Growth Officer at Magnolia, and previously as a senior marketing executive at Signet Jewelers, Neiman Marcus and Vera Bradley.
Monique Picou has served as an independent director since March 2024 and serves on the Board's Nominating & Governance Committee. She is a Vice President in Google Cloud Supply Chain and Operations at Alphabet and previously held senior supply-chain leadership roles at Sam's Club, Walmart and Procter & Gamble, bringing over 30 years of supply chain and operations experience.
Steve Lawrence has served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Academy Sports and Outdoors since June 2023, having joined the Company in February 2019 as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer. He brings over 35 years of retail experience, previously serving as President and CEO of francesca's, as Chief Merchandising Officer at Stage Stores, and in merchandising leadership roles at J.C. Penney and Foley's/May Co.
Sam Johnson has served as President of Academy Sports and Outdoors since October 2023, having joined the Company in April 2017 as Executive Vice President, Retail Operations. Prior to Academy he spent seven years at hhgregg, where he served as Chief Retail Officer, and more than 20 years in leadership roles at Sears Holdings, including Vice President of Small Stores.
Carl Ford has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Academy Sports and Outdoors since July 2023, having joined the Company in January 2019 as Senior Vice President, Finance. He previously spent 15 years at Belk in financial planning, internal audit and treasury roles, began his career at Deloitte & Touche, and is an active Certified Public Accountant.
Matt McCabe has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Academy Sports and Outdoors since June 2023, having joined the Company in December 2016 and served as Senior Vice President, General Merchandise Manager of Footwear. He has more than 25 years of apparel and footwear experience, including leadership roles at Golfsmith International, The Bon Ton Department Stores and Sears & Roebuck Co.