Since joining Build-A-Bear Workshop in 2015, Mr. Hurt served as Chief Operations Officer, and more recently, Chief Operations and Experience Officer. Much of his tenure focused on restructuring the organization’s largest business unit, the global retail management and operations team, including guest experience, real estate, build-out, and logistics. During his oversight, the company executed a successful multi-dimensional retail turnaround, resulting in best-in-class vertical retail operations, generating top-tier profitability for the experience-driven brand as well as reigniting international expansion. Since early 2024, Mr. Hurt shifted his operational and consumer-insight expertise to redefine the Brand, Merchandising, Marketing, and Licensing areas of the business where he has further extended consumer segments and categories through product expansion and engaging brand initiatives. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Hurt was at American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. from 2002 to 2015 in various senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President of North America, Vice President/General Manager of the Factory stores, Zone Vice President and Regional Director. Prior to that, Mr. Hurt held positions of increasing responsibility at Polo Ralph Lauren after starting his career at The Procter & Gamble Company.
