WOMEN CEO REPORT

LizanneKindler

Lizanne Kindler

The Talbots, Inc.

Lizanne Kindler, a Class C Director, is executive chair and chief executive officer of KnitWell Group, a multi-brand retail operating company comprised of apparel brands Ann Taylor, Chico’s, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, and White House Black Market. Together, these brands make KnitWell one of the largest specialty apparel companies in the United States. Kindler has extensive retail leadership experience and began her career at Ann Taylor Stores Corporation where she spent 15 years in various leadership roles. Kindler left Ann Taylor in 2008 to join Talbots and then spent time at Kohl’s as an executive vice president. She returned to Talbots as president in 2012 when the company was purchased by private equity firm, Sycamore Partners. She was promoted to CEO nine months later. In 2021, Kindler was also named executive chair and interim chief executive officer of Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lane Bryant, collectively known as Ascena. Kindler served for four years as an Expert-In-Residence for Babson College’s Women Innovating Now Lab, an accelerator for women entrepreneurs. She is a previous member of the advisory board of the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.