Celebrating Five Years at Bread Financial

As I reflect on my five-year anniversary as President & CEO of Bread Financial , I am filled with genuine pride and gratitude. Since joining the company on Feb. 3, 2020, I have had the privilege of working alongside an exceptional leadership team and talented, dedicated associates who have been instrumental in our success, and there are five key moments that stand out to me.??

Managing through a global pandemic??

Two months into my tenure, the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Navigating through this unprecedented crisis was a challenging yet defining moment for the company and my career. We swiftly implemented measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our associates, and despite the uncertainty, worked tirelessly to successfully support our customers, partners and communities. While this was not how I envisioned my first few weeks on the job, I witnessed firsthand the organization’s grit, caring culture, resiliency and adaptability – foreshadowing great things to come. I remain immensely proud of our associates’ incredible perseverance, and how we responsibly managed the business to do what was right for our stakeholders.?

Business transformation?

Five years ago, we embarked on what was arguably the most significant transformation in our company’s history. Since that time, we streamlined and simplified our business model, modernized our technology infrastructure and expanded our product offerings, among other accomplishments. We have and will continue to invest in our associates, empowering them to thrive, and putting our customers first. Navigating through changing macro-economic conditions, we emerged stronger, and our focus on driving innovation and operational excellence has positioned Bread Financial for sustainable, profitable growth.??

Bread Financial has more than 30 years of history driving value for its stakeholders, and as part of our recent business transformation, we strengthened our balance sheet by paying down our debt and taking a disciplined approach to capital allocation. We have successfully repositioned our company as a leader in the financial services industry, and while achieving these milestones has been gratifying, I am equally humbled by the trust we have earned from our associates, customers, partners and investors. ?

A new era, a new brand??

Our successful rebranding of Alliance Data to Bread Financial in 2022 was a once-in-a-career initiative that involved not only a name change, but a comprehensive overhaul of our identity to become a purpose-driven brand. We updated our mission and vision and ensured our new brand aligned with our company values and leadership behaviors, while also enhancing our consumer-facing presence in the marketplace. It was a complex and ambitious project, and our team's dedication and strategic vision ensured its success.??

I am proud of the ways our associates, communities and customers have embraced the brand, and it has been thrilling to see Bread Financial commercials on TV and our logo on Columbus Blue Jackets and PWHL helmets. The rebrand was the capstone of our transformation, and I am excited about the opportunities it will continue to unlock.?

Ringing in a new chapter??

As a New York City native, ringing the NYSE opening bell and adding our new name with other great brands and leaders in the guest book was thrilling and a pivotal moment in my career. Standing on the podium alongside my senior leadership team, I felt immense pride for the hard work and dedication of our associates as we signaled our transformation to investors and the marketplace. It was a moment of celebration that showcased our achievements and symbolically set the stage for our future success.?

Supporting our associates??

One of my core beliefs is that associates are the heart of any organization, and that an engaged and fulfilled workforce helps accomplish our business goals and priorities. This philosophy has shaped my commitment to lead with empathy and transparency, and to always empower associates to be their best selves. Together with the People and Culture team, we introduced a framework to ensure we continually provide the personalized and rewarding experiences needed for our associates to feel cared for, understood, connected, invested, supported and valued. During my first five years, this ongoing work has resulted in a variety of improved benefits and leave policies, associate award and recognition programs, new company holidays, increased career and development opportunities, mental health and financial wellness resources, and much more.??

By focusing on the total well-being of our associates, we have earned numerous national and global workplace recognitions and fundamentally changed the associate experience and what it means to work at Bread Financial. Whether singing karaoke in India or celebrating the winners of our most prestigious company awards, my fondest experiences over the past five years have been spent with our talented associates. Like any organization, we have faced headwinds and challenges, but we always manage to have some fun along the way.????

When I accepted my position five years ago, my daughters told me they were proud of me. Their words influence my actions and decisions daily, and I continually strive to be a father and leader they admire. It has been an honor to lead this company, and I am deeply grateful for the support and confidence of our many stakeholders as we continue to execute our plans and deliver on our commitments well into the future.??

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