Services Profiles Contact

Jay Schottenstein

Various roles | Chairman & CEO

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

Miami Beach, FL, USA

Jay Schottenstein

Discovery, Inc.

Jay’s Biography

Jay Schottenstein is well respected in the retail industry with over four decades of experience directing numerous businesses which form the Schottenstein Family of Companies. He currently serves as the CEO and Executive Chairman of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO).

Founded in 1977, American Eagle Outfitters has been guided through decades of change and innovation by Jay, who helped grow AEO into the most popular brand of jeans in its demographic and among women of all ages.

Jay and his expert knowledge of merchandising, operations, real estate and brand building has helped AEO grow from a store carrying other company’s brands to a vertically integrated owned multi-brand specialty retailer that has transformed AEO into a global leader in casual and affordable apparel. Jay has skillfully led the retailer through numerous store expansions and built the company's omni-capabilities and digital business to be best in class.

In addition to his role at AEO, Jay serves as Chairman, President and CEO of Schottenstein Stores Corp., Chairman and CEO of American Signature Inc.,... Jay Schottenstein is well respected in the retail industry with over four decades of experience directing numerous businesses which form the Schottenstein Family of Companies. He currently serves as the CEO and Executive Chairman of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO).

Founded in 1977, American Eagle Outfitters has been guided through decades of change and innovation by Jay, who helped grow AEO into the most popular brand of jeans in its demographic and among women of all ages.

Jay and his expert knowledge of merchandising, operations, real estate and brand building has helped AEO grow from a store carrying other company’s brands to a vertically integrated owned multi-brand specialty retailer that has transformed AEO into a global leader in casual and affordable apparel. Jay has skillfully led the retailer through numerous store expansions and built the company's omni-capabilities and digital business to be best in class.

In addition to his role at AEO, Jay serves as Chairman, President and CEO of Schottenstein Stores Corp., Chairman and CEO of American Signature Inc., Executive Chairman of Designer Brands, Inc. (NYSE:DBI), Chairman of SB360 Capital Partners, Chairman of Second Avenue Capital Partners, Chairman of Schottenstein Property Group and others.

In addition to his many professional duties and obligations, Jay and his wife Jeanie are deeply involved in supporting charitable organizations worldwide through the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Foundation. Jay and his family support a variety of organizations, such as the Columbus Museum of Art, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, United Way, American Red Cross, and several mental health and anti-bias educational initiatives.

Jay graduated from Indiana University Bloomington's Kelley School of Business with a BS in Business Administration. more less

Jay’s Newsfeed

Business Wire

AEO Inc. Expands ESG Goals & Highlights Two Decades of Progress in “Building a Better World” Report

“Doing good–and doing right by our customers, associates and communities is deeply woven within the fabric of AEO,” said Jay Schottenstein. “We are proud to release our second ESG report to highlight greater transparency and our ongoing commitment to building a better world."

Read more

Miami's Community News

Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Gift Funds Center for Behavioral Health at Mount Sinai Medical C

The Center for Behavioral Health offers inpatient services to adult and geriatric patients. “We are fortunate to be able to support those who are struggling with mental health issues…helping to create a safe space where people can go for exceptional care, without stigma,” said Jay Schottenstein.

Read more

View News Archive

Jay’s Background

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

Various roles | Chairman & CEO

1992 - Present

Pittsburgh, PA, USA

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. Its other brands include Offline, Tailgate, Todd Snyder NY, and Unsubscribed.

American Signature, Inc.

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

1992 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

A family-founded, family-led business for almost 75 years, American Signature, Inc. still stands on the core mission that started it all: to provide a furniture destination you can rely on. For style. For quality. For value. It is the parent company to Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture operating 119 stores, 4 distribution centers and 3 manufacturing facilities in 18 states.

Designer Brands Inc.

Executive Chairman

2005 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

Designer Brands is one of North America’s largest designers, producers and retailers of footwear and accessories. Designer Brands' business divisions include world-class design and sourcing operations, a robust wholesaling business, and more than 1,000 points of distribution.

Mayacamas Vineyards

Owner

2013 - Present

Napa, CA, USA

Mayacamas Vineyards is one of Napa Valley's most celebrated and historic estates. It has been a source of legendary California wine since 1889. The Schottenstein family, as the newest owners in a lineage of pioneering caretakers spanning more than 125 years, faithfully steward Mayacamas Vineyards toward a bright future, ever mindful of the great traditions of the past.

SB360 Capital Partners

Executive Chairman

1976 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

SB360 Capital Partners continues the Schottenstein family’s heritage of creating innovative solutions for retailers, wholesalers, and manufacturers in need of liquidity to face complex business challenges.

Schottenstein Property Group

Chairman

1992 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

Schottenstein Property Group owns and manages over 11 million square feet of gross leasable area consisting of residential, retail, industrial, and office properties located in 23 states across the U.S.

Schottenstein Stores Corporation

Chairman, CEO & President

Columbus, OH, USA

Schottenstein Stores Corporation is a holding company supporting the Schottenstein family of companies. American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE:AEO), American Signature Inc., Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI), Mayacamas Vineyards, Retail Entertainment Design, SB360 Capital Partners, Schottenstein Property Group, Second Avenue Capital Partners, Tincati Milano and Value City Furniture are part of the company.

View all Hide

Jay’s Gallery

Current Board Positions

Schottenstein Stores Corporation

Chairman

1992 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

Schottenstein Stores Corporation, together with its affiliates, administers and manages the Schottenstein family’s many business investments.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.

Chairman

1982 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (NYSE:AEO) is a leading global specialty retailer offering high-quality, on-trend clothing, accessories and personal care products at affordable prices under its American Eagle® and Aerie® brands. It is recognized as the number one jean brand in its demographic and number one for women of all ages.

American Signature, Inc.

Chairman

1992 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

American Signature Inc. is the parent company to Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture, two of the country’s leading furniture retailers.

Designer Brands Inc.

Executive Chairman

2005 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

Designer Brands (DSW) is one of North America's largest footwear and accessory designers, makers, and merchants. Divisions include world-class design and sourcing operations, a thriving wholesale division, and over 1,000 points of distribution.

SB360 Capital Partners

Executive Chairman

1976 - Present

Columbus, OH, USA

SB360 Capital Partners provides unique solutions for complex business challenges in national retail and wholesale businesses.

Axxes Capital

Co-Vice Chairman

Coral Gables, FL, USA

Axxes Capital aims to empower financial advisors to deliver innovative private market solutions for the “alternative” allocation of client portfolios.

Second Avenue Capital Partners

Chairman

2018 - Present

Needham, MA, USA

Second Avenue Capital Partners specializes in asset-based loans for the broader retail and consumer products industry focusing on middle-market companies. Second Avenue leverages the experience of retail operators, product merchants, and lenders to provide an array of customized, capital solutions such as debt, loan, bridge financing, revolving credit line, senior debt and secured debt.

Tincati Milano

Executive Chairman

2018 - Present

Milan, IT

Tincati Milano designs and sells Italian luxury clothing. The first Tincati store opened in Milan in 1965. Today, its style, tradition and quality make Tincati a favorite store among the Milanese and an exclusive brand acclaimed by people around the world who recognize and appreciate the value of exclusiveness and tradition.

Columbus Partnership

Board member

Columbus, OH, USA

The Columbus Partnership supports a shared vision to make Columbus the most prosperous region in the United States.

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation

Board member

Columbus, OH, USA

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation is a private, non-profit development corporation with the purpose of leading city changing projects in Ohio’s capital city.

View all Hide

Philanthropy

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Center For Behavioral Health at Mount Sinai Medical Center

2022 - Present

Miami Beach, FL, USA

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Center for Behavioral Health is funded by a generous gift from the Schottenstein family. It offers both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services to adult and geriatric patients.

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel

Supporter

2016 - Present

Jerusalem, IL

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel, constructed in Jerusalem, allows visitors to see cultural treasures discovered and excavated in Israel in past centuries. The campus is a unique architectural gem covering approximately 387,500 square feet.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Supporter

New York, NY, USA

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation leads the battle against type 1 diabetes (T1D) by funding research, developing innovative medicines, and providing support to individuals living with T1D.

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Donor

Columbus, OH, USA

Nationwide Children's Hospital is a world-class academic pediatric medical hospital that specializes in the treatment of the most challenging disorders. The hospital's century-old mission of providing the finest treatment for all children, regardless of their family's capacity to pay, has never altered.

Columbus Museum of Art

Supporter

Columbus, OH, USA

The Columbus Museum of Art, located in the heart of Columbus, Ohio, was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio, having been founded in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts.

United Way of Ohio

Donor

Columbus, OH, USA

United Way makes a difference in people's lives by harnessing the caring power of communities all over the world to further the common good.

American Red Cross

Donor

Washington, DC, USA

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization which provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education across the United States.

Jerome Schottenstein Center

Donor

Ohio City, OH, USA

The Jerome Schottenstein Center is a sports arena providing excellent facilities to student athletes, staff, coaches and fans. Construction began in April 1996 and it opened its doors in November 1998. The arena has hosted concerts by Barbara Streisand, The Rolling Stones and Garth Brooks.

Jay & Jeanie Schottenstein Prize in Cardiovascular Sciences - The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Award Sponsor

Columbus, OH, USA

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Prize in Cardiovascular Sciences honors and supports those working at the forefront of cardiovascular science on a national and worldwide level. The award is presented biennially.

$10 Million gift funds Jeffrey Schottenstein Program For Resilience at Ohio State

Donor

Columbus, OH, USA

The Jeffrey Schottenstein Program for Resilience, funded by the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Foundation, will benefit and support the day-to-day mental health of students while at university. The program will run across The Ohio State University campus and The Ohio State University College of Medicine.

View all Hide

Media

Jay Schottenstein and others to Be Honored at the 2022 Father of the Year Awards

May 2022

New York, NY, USA

Jay Schottenstein was recognized at the 80th Annual Father of the Year Awards, and he discussed the influence his family has had on him over the years as well as how he has passed his father's values onto his own children.

Schottensteins fund mental health center in Florida

Apr 2022

Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein are funding a behavioral health center at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Fla., continuing their efforts to provide support for mental health issues.

View all Hide

Interviews

CEO Talks: Jay Schottenstein Reflects on a Lifetime in the Retail Industry

Feb 2021

Columbus, OH, USA

Jay Schottenstein, CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, talks fashion in the time of COVID-19, the future of retail, and what he's learned in his 50-plus years in the business.

Features

Jeanie & Jay Schottenstein on Mental Health Care

Nov 2021

Columbus, OH, USA

The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Family Foundation contributed $10 million to develop the new Jeffrey Schottenstein Program for Resilience, which aims to support students dealing with mental health issues.

Awards & Recognition

The National Father’s Day Council

Honoree | Father of the Year

2022

The National Father’s Day Committee confers Father of the Year Honors on contemporary lifestyle leaders of our culture whose lives are dedicated to family, citizenship, charity, civility, responsibility and reverence.

American Red Cross

Humanitarian of the Year

2010

Columbus, OH, USA

The Humanitarian of the Year Award was presented to Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein by the American Red Cross Greater Columbus Chapter for their support and dedication to the organization.

View all Hide

Jay’s Education

Indiana University | Kelley School of Business

BS | Business