Biography

Narayan Iyengar, 48, was appointed to our Board of Directors on November 30, 2021. From March 2022 to June 2023, Mr. Iyengar served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of DISH Network Corporation, a publicly traded provider of television entertainment and technology through satellite and streaming services, where he oversaw key business operations including customer experience, in-home services, billing and credit, and manufacturing and distribution. His areas of focus include digital transformation, omnichannel customer journeys and accelerating strategic initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as the Senior Vice President, Digital and E-Commerce of Albertsons Companies, a leading food and drug retailer, from 2017 to 2020, where he led the digital transformation and launched various e-commerce and omnichannel offerings, expanded the loyalty program and enhanced the digital experience. Prior to that, from 2013 to 2017, he served as Vice President, E Commerce and Digital Analytics of The Walt Disney Company, a multinational entertainment, and media conglomerate, where he led the growth of e-commerce channel for Walt Disney’s theme parks, resorts, cruise lines and guided family adventures. From 2005 to 2013, Mr. Iyengar was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, and served global clients on topics related to business technology and digital transformation. Mr. Iyengar has also served as on the board, as an advisor and as interim executive at a number of venture-backed firms. He holds a Master of Business Administration, Management from Columbia University Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics & Communication Engineering from University of Mysore, India.

Mr. Iyengar has extensive operational and e-commerce experience, and he has helped numerous companies in a variety of industries formulate and implement innovative the digital transformation strategies. Mr. Iyengar brings to the Build-A-Bear Workshop Board of Directors valuable and relevant insights regarding digital, sales, marketing and other strategic and operational matters.