Board of Directors

Jerry D. Guess is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. The Company is focused on inclusive capitalism in rural America, neighboring urban communities, and select global markets, and conducts business through operating subsidiaries aligned with mining, energy, finance, insurance, agriculture, technology, real estate, and health care. 

Mr. Guess has more than two decades of experience in organizational leadership and enterprise development. His background includes the formation, oversight, and stewardship of operating and holding companies across multiple sectors, with an emphasis on long‑term structure, discipline, and continuity.

Since founding Guess & Co. in 2017, Mr. Guess has served as Chairman, overseeing corporate governance, strategic direction, and long‑term enterprise positioning. Over the course of his career, he has been involved in the successful completion and integration of acquisitions with an aggregate transaction value exceeding $2.5 billion.

Mr. Guess has served as Chairman since 2019, including as Chairman of a predecessor entity prior to the formation of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. As Chairman, he works closely with the Board of Directors and executive leadership to support disciplined governance, risk management, and continuity across the Company’s activities.

James R. Jackson is Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. In this role, he works alongside the Chairman in overseeing the Company’s governance and board‑level oversight. Mr. Jackson is an experienced financial professional who retired from Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) after more than 37 years of service. He began his career as a fiduciary tax associate and later served as a charitable trust officer, where he was responsible for the management and administration of more than 500 trust accounts for the firm’s wealth management clients.

Following his retirement from the banking industry, Mr. Jackson became a partner in a private security services firm, where he supported training initiatives and was responsible for administrative and business development functions.

Mr. Jackson initially joined a predecessor entity of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. as a Special Adviser and worked closely with the Board of Directors and senior management on governance and strategic matters. He subsequently served as Vice‑Chairman prior to his current position.

Mr. Jackson was appointed Deputy Chairman in October 2021 and Senior Deputy Chairman in April 2022. He joined the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. in February 2025 and was appointed Deputy Chairman at that time.

Paris N. Smith is Lead Director of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. In this role, she provides independent board leadership and supports governance oversight, risk management, and continuity across the Company.

Ms. Smith is an experienced public‑sector and technology professional with more than a decade of experience across organizational governance, technology management, and enterprise support functions. She served as the initial and interim Lead Director of a predecessor entity of Guess & Co. Group, Inc. in 2017 and has continued to support the Company’s board‑level governance since that time.

Prior to her current role, Ms. Smith served as Lead Director of a diversified private holding company following her tenure as Vice‑Chairman and Secretary. Her background includes senior roles in technology operations, cybersecurity, and digital forensics supporting complex organizational environments.

Ms. Smith has held technology leadership and advisory positions across both public‑sector and private‑sector settings, including roles involving enterprise technology management and large‑scale operational support.

Ms. Smith completed academic studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and ECPI University and earned a degree in Cybersecurity from Strayer University.