– USA, NJ – Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. (NYSE: BNED), a leading solutions provider for the education industry, today announced the appointment of Mario Dell’Aera, Kathryn Eberle Walker, Denise Warren, and Rory Wallace to its Board as Independent Directors, effective immediately.
Concurrently, Lowell Robinson and Zachary Levenick have stepped down from the Board, effective immediately.
“The appointments of Mario, Kate and Denise are the culmination of a comprehensive search process and marks significant progress on our commitment to refresh the Board with additional skills, experience and diversity. Each of these directors bring significant and highly relevant experience, providing additional financial, operational and industry expertise to enhance the execution of our strategy,” said Board Chairman, Vice Admiral John Ryan.
Mike Huseby, CEO, added, “We are excited to welcome Mario, Kate, Denise, and Rory to the Board. We believe the addition of these fresh perspectives will help us continue our momentum to drive profitable growth across BNED and extend our leadership in education as we deliver best-in-class solutions for our students, schools, and partners and enhance value for our shareholders.”
About Mario R. Dell’Aera, Jr.
Mario Dell’Aera previously served as Senior Audit Partner and COO of U.S. Audit Operations at KPMG LLP from 2019 until his retirement in 2021, managing 16 business units encompassing over 9,000 partners and professionals and a $3.0BN operating plan. He brings nearly 40 years of accounting experience serving large, global public and private companies in the information, communications, and entertainment industries. From 2012 to 2019, he served as Senior Audit Partner for KPMG’s Financial Services Audit practice, comprising banking, capital markets, insurance, asset management, and real estate companies. In addition to his deep audit and operational expertise, Mr. Dell’Aera brings a proven track record of leadership, innovation, and guiding public companies undergoing strategic transformations and financing transactions.
About Kate Eberle Walker
Kate Eberle Walker currently serves as CEO and Board Chair of Presence Learnings Inc., a provider of special education teletherapy solutions. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading education organizations and an established track record driving value creation through her expertise in human capital management, finance, M&A, and strategy development. From 2015 to 2017, she served as CEO of The Princeton Review and Tutor.com, and CFO and CSO from 2014 to 2015. Ms. Walker began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs. She currently serves as a Director of Babbel, Testing Mom and Prospect Schools, and as a Trustee of the International School of Brooklyn. Ms. Walker previously served on the Board of Directors of Rosetta Stone from 2019 until the company’s acquisition by Cambium Learning Group Inc. in 2020.
About Denise Warren
Denise Warren currently serves as the Founder and CEO of Netlyst, LLC a consulting and advisory practice focused on digital business growth and scaling consumer and enterprise recurring revenue streams. She brings extensive public company board experience and has a proven track record of growing and operating profitable, recurring revenue businesses in the media and publishing sector, as well as driving transformational digital change in marketing, product and sales. Before founding Netlyst, Ms. Warren served as President of Digital and CEO of East Coast Publishing for Tribune Publishing from 2015 to 2016. For more than 25 years, she served in numerous capacities at The New York Times Company inducing as EVP of Digital Products and Services; General Manager, nytimes.com; Chief Advertising Officer; SVP of Strategic Planning; and Director of Marketing. Ms. Warren currently serves as an independent Director of Taylor Morrison Home Corporation (NYSE: TMHC) and previously served as a Director and Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Monotype Imaging, and a Director of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA).
About Rory Wallace
Rory Wallace is the CIO of Outerbridge Capital Management, LLC, and was appointed to the Board as part of the renewed cooperation agreement with Outerbridge.
He brings extensive financial and operational knowledge in the technology, media, retail, and education sectors, and a strong track record of advising public companies on managing the capital markets. Before founding Outerbridge, Mr. Wallace served as Founder and CIO of DHC Asset Management, LLC, an investment adviser that focused its investments on technology, media, and retail. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wallace served in various positions at Straus Asset Management LLC, an investment management firm, including as an analyst and then as a Portfolio Manager.
About Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.
Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. is a leading solutions provider for the education industry, driving affordability, access, and achievement at hundreds of academic institutions nationwide and ensuring millions of students are equipped for success in the classroom and beyond. Through its family of brands, BNED offers campus retail services and academic solutions, a digital direct-to-student learning ecosystem, an unparalleled best-in-class assortment of school apparel through a strategic alliance with Fanatics and Lids, wholesale capabilities, and more. BNED is a company serving all who work to elevate their lives through education, supporting students, faculty, and institutions as they make tomorrow a better, more inclusive, and smarter world.
For more information: https://www.bned.com/
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