David L. Willis has served as our Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since September 2023. Mr. Willis joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in July 2016 and served in that role until 2020, resuming the position again from January 2022 to March 2023. He has also served as the Company’s Chief Operating Officer since September 2019 and as its President from March 2023 until his promotion to Chief Executive Officer.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Willis served as an Operating Partner for Riata Capital Group, LLC from October 2014 to July 2016, as Chief Financial Officer of Williams Industrial Services Group Inc. (f/k/a Global Power Equipment Group Inc.) from January 2008 to November 2013, and as a Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal from September 2001 to January 2008. Mr. Willis received a B.B.A. in accounting from the University of Oklahoma and an M.B.A. from the University of Tulsa.
Stacie Shirley joined the Company as Chief Financial Officer in March 2023. Previously, she was the Chief Financial Officer of Keller Williams, the world’s largest real estate technology franchisor by agent count, where she led the finance, accounting, treasury, budgeting, and forecasting, internal audit, and M&A functions. From 2016 to 2021, she was the Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer of Tuesday Morning, one of the original off-price retailers specializing in name-brand, high-quality products for the home. Prior to Tuesday Morning, Ms. Shirley held various roles at the Neiman Marcus Group from 2002 to 2015 including Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer and Vice President, Finance. She received her BBA in Accounting from Stephen F. Austin State University.
Andrea Wasserman has served as Chief Commercial Officer since 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Andrea served as Managing Director for Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase where she focused on growing revenue via B2C marketing and B2B partnerships. From 2018 to 2021 she held several leadership roles at Verizon, including Head of Global Commerce at Verizon Media Group, and Vice President of Retail Experience at Verizon Consumer Group. Prior to Verizon, Ms. Wasserman was Senior Vice President, GM eCommerce at Hudson’s Bay and Lord & Taylor, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at Sole Society, and held several leadership positions at Nordstrom, including General Manager, Weddings and Prom. She received her B.S. in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University, and her MBA from Columbia Business School.
Gavin M. O’Connor has served as our Chief Administrative Officer since September 2023, with responsibility for the Company’s supply chain, technology, legal, talent, ESG and risk management functions. Mr. O’Connor served as our Chief Human Resources Officer from October 2021 in addition to our Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary from January 2020 until his promotion to Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. O’Connor served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. from March 2018 to January 2020. From July 2010 to March 2018, he was at GNC Holdings Inc., where he served in various roles, including Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary. Mr. O’Connor earned a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
Mike Breeze has served as Chief Information Officer since 2023. He joined European Wax Center in 2019 as VP, Infrastructure, Security, & Network and was promoted to SVP, Infrastructure, Security, & Corporate Applications in 2022. Prior to joining the company, Mike served as SVP, Infrastructure, Facilities, and Support for Fairway Mortgage from 2017-2019, VP, Customer Service and Sales Operations at CyberadAPT! from 2016-2017, and Senior Director of IT operations, Service Management, & PMO at McAfee / Intel from 2004-2016. Mike studied at North Texas State University, Eastfield College, and Phoenix University and holds a Bachelors degree in Information Technology.
Joel Larkin has served as our Chief Franchise and Development Officer since April 2024. He previously served as our Chief Development Officer from January 2023 to April 2024, Senior Vice President of Business Development from January 2022 to January 2023, Vice President of Business Development from June 2021 to January 2022, and a Regional Vice President from July 2019 to June 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Larkin served in various roles of increasing responsibility with Victra, an authorized Verizon reseller. Mr. Larkin earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s degree in Management of Telecommunications from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Cindy Thomassee has served as Chief Accounting Officer since January 2022. She joined European Wax Center in April 2021 as Senior Vice President Accounting and Controller. Prior to joining the Company, Cindy served in several roles at Francesca’s Holdings Corporation between 2007 and 2021, including as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Controller, Senior Vice President of Accounting and Controller, and Accounting Director and Controller. Prior to joining Francesca’s, Cindy held various Accounting leadership positions in Bassett Furniture Industries, Alright Parking and Service Corporation International. Cindy is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelors of Science-Accounting degree from University of Houston – Clear Lake.
Aura De Biase has served as Vice President of Human Resources since 2022. She joined European Wax Center in 2015 and has held several leadership positions in Human Resources. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. De Biase held several learning and development roles at Starboard Cruise Services, an LVMH company from 2011 to 2015, and several human resources roles at Fontainebleau Miami Beach from 2008 to 2011. Ms. De Biase holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University.
Vice President of Infrastructure, Data Engineering, & IT Service Management
Doug LeMaster has served as the Vice President of Infrastructure, Data Engineering, & IT Service Management since joining European Wax Center in 2023. Prior to joining the Company, Doug served as Director of Site Reliability Engineering & Release Management at Signify Health from 2020 to 2023. Previously, Doug served at the Sabre Corporation as the Senior Director of Enterprise Automation Solutions and the Sr. Director of Software Development Life Cycle, Call Center Operations, & Service Desk from 2016 to 2020. Doug is 34-year Air Force Reserve veteran, retiring in June 2023, as a Lieutenant Colonel who specialized in Cyber Operations and Operations Management. Doug holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Ohio State University and a Associates in Applied Science in Personnel Administration from Community College of the Air Force. He has Masters Certificates in Project Management from George Washington University and IT Service Management from Loyalist College. He also holds a Certified Software Quality Analyst, ITIL V3 Expert, Project Management Professional, and Lean Six Sigma certifications.
Addison Niesman has served as Vice President, Supply Chain since 2023. He joined European Wax Center in 2019 as Director, Sourcing and Procurement and later served as Sr. Director, Supply Chain. Prior to joining the Company, Addison served as Sr. Manager, Supply Chain Operations of Georgia Pacific from 2017 to 2019, as Sourcing Manager of Georgia Pacific from 2016 to 2017, and as Director, Business Development of Carroll Company from 2014 to 2016. Addison holds a B.S. International Affairs - Economics from Florida State University.
Jo Gittins has served as Regional Vice President since 2023. She joined European Wax Center in 2017 as Director of Franchise Performance and later served as Senior Director of Operations. Prior to joining the Company, Jo served as Director of Cruise Line Retail at Starboard Cruise Svs from 2014 to 2017 and as Senior District Manager of Starboard Cruise Svs from 2012 to 2014.
Deanna Sieg has served as Regional Vice President since 2023. She joined European Wax Center in 2017 as Director of Franchise Performance and later served as Sr. Director of Operations. Prior to joining the Company, Deanna served as Vice President of Operations of DFASS from 2016 to 2017, as Head of Operations of Swatch Group US from 2015 to 2016, and as Sr. Director of Operations & Communications for Soma from 2011 to 2015.
David P. Berg was elevated to Executive Chairman in September 2023 following his five-year tenure as our Chief Executive Officer and member of our board of directors. Prior to joining the Company in October 2018, Mr. Berg served as Chief Executive Officer of Carlson Hospitality Group from May 2015 to March 2017, where he led the Carlson corporate center and managed the global hotel business. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Customer Service Officer of Z Wireless from June 2013 to January 2014, as Executive Vice President and President of Outback Steakhouse from September 2011 to May 2013, as Chief Operating Officer of GNC Holdings Inc. from September 2009 to September 2011, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Best Buy International from 2002 until 2009. He also served on the board of directors of Planet Fitness from September 2015 to May 2020. Mr. Berg received a B.A. in economics from Emory University, and a J.D. with honors from the University of Florida College of Law.
Alexa Bartlett has served as a member of our board of directors since since August 2020. Ms. Bartlett is a Vice President at General Atlantic, focusing on investments in the firm’s Consumer sector. Prior to joining General Atlantic in 2020, Ms. Bartlett served as a Vice President at Warburg Pincus from 2016 to 2020. Prior to that, she was at Bain Capital, where she focused primarily on consumer and healthcare investments. Ms. Bartlett started her career in the Private Equity Group at Goldman Sachs. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of VEGAMOUR. Ms. Bartlett earned a B.A. in Engineering from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Andrew Crawford has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2018. Mr. Crawford is a Managing Director and Global Head of General Atlantic’s Consumer sector. He also serves on General Atlantic’s Management Committee and is Chairman of the Portfolio Committee. Prior to joining General Atlantic in 2014, Mr. Crawford was at Advent International from 2003 to 2014, where he served as a senior member of the investment team focusing on the Retail & Consumer sector. He also serves as a member of the board of directors of Authentic Brands Group, Joe & the Juice, FORMA, Torchy’s Tacos and Buff City Soap. Mr. Crawford earned a B.S. in Business Administration & Accounting from Washington and Lee University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Shaw Joseph has served as a member of our board of directors since August 2018. Mr. Joseph is a Managing Director at General Atlantic, focusing on investments in the firm’s Consumer sector. Since joining General Atlantic in 2012, Mr. Joseph has also been active in General Atlantic’s Technology sector. Prior to General Atlantic, he was an Associate at Hellman & Friedman from July 2007 to July 2010. He also serves as a board observer at Squarespace and a member of the board of directors of Torchy’s Tacos. Mr. Joseph earned a B.S. from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Dorvin D. Lively has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2021. Mr. Lively served as President of Planet Fitness, Inc. from May 2017 until 2022 and as Chief Financial Officer from 2013 until January 2019. Mr. Lively served as Chief Financial Officer of Planet Fitness, Inc. from July 2013 to May 2017. Prior to Planet Fitness, he held several roles at RadioShack from August 2011 to July 2013, including as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Administrative Officer. Prior to RadioShack, Mr. Lively was Chief Financial Officer of Ace Hardware Corp. His experience also includes previous positions as Maidenform Brands, Toys R Us, The Reader’s Digest Association and Pepsi-Cola International. Mr. Lively also serves as a member of the board of directors of Mister Car Wash, Inc. Mr. Lively earned a B.S. in accounting from the University of Arkansas.
Laurie Ann Goldman has served as a member of our board of directors since July 2021. Ms. Goldman has over 30 years of management and operating experience building consumer and retail businesses. She currently serves as President and CEO of Tupperware Brands and was previously Chief Executive Officer of OVME Aesthetics and Chief Executive Officer of Avon North America. Ms. Goldman also served as Chief Executive Officer of Spanx from 2002 to 2014. Prior to Spanx, she held various marketing and operational leadership roles at The Coca-Cola Company for a decade. She currently serves as a member of the board of directors of Claire's, Cole Haan, Joe & the Juice, Invited and 101 Studios. Ms. Goldman earned a B.S. from the Moody School of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.
Nital Scott brings a wealth of experience including eight years at skin care and cosmetics company, Beautycounter, where she served as Chief Financial Officer from 2014 until 2022. During her time there, Beautycounter grew its revenue 12 times over. Prior to her tenure at Beautycounter, Scott held the position of Vice President of Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs for six years. Ms. Scott also serves on the board of directors for Welch’s. She earned an M.B.A. in finance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a B.A. in economics from UCLA.
