Express Expands Collegiate Athlete Style Ambassador Program

Ethan Grunkemeyer Makes History With Express as the Brand’s Youngest NIL Athlete Partner

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fashion apparel retailer Express, Inc. (NYSE: EXPR), announces today the latest partnership in the brand’s collegiate athlete style ambassador program with Ohio-based student athlete Ethan Grunkemeyer. Grunkemeyer, who is considered a top 10 college football quarterback recruit, is the brand’s youngest athlete partner to date. Grunkemeyer celebrates his first Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal on National Signing Day, as he marks his commitment to play at Penn State University and becomes an official Nittany Lion.

Grunkemeyer's partnership with Express underscores the brand's commitment to creating confidence and inspiring self-expression on and off the field.

“I am excited to start this new chapter in my life and am thrilled to be working with Express,” said Ethan Grunkemeyer. “As a Columbus native, I grew up wearing and loving Express. It is an honor to partner with the brand and follow in the footsteps of other noteworthy college athletes who have come before me in the program.”

Sara Tervo, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Express said, "We are thrilled to welcome Ethan Grunkemeyer into the Express Styling Community, expanding on our successful collegiate athlete style ambassador program with a local, talented athlete beginning his college football career.”

In addition to styling Grunkemeyer for his first-ever press event, the social-first campaign will be prominently showcased across the brand’s owned channels and talent channels, leveraging the athlete’s influence on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Through this collaboration, Grunkemeyer seeks to solidify his personal style as an athlete and showcase the power of building confidence at every stage of life in collaboration with the brand.

More information on the Express Styling Community, visit Express.com and @express on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest and Threads.

About Express, Inc.

Express, Inc. is a multi-brand fashion retailer whose portfolio includes Express, Bonobos and UpWest. The Company operates an omnichannel platform as well as physical and online stores. Grounded in a belief that style, quality and value should all be found in one place, Express is a brand with a purpose - We Create Confidence. We Inspire Self-Expression. - powered by a styling community. Bonobos is a menswear brand known for exceptional fit and an innovative retail model. UpWest is an apparel, accessories and home goods brand with a purpose to Provide Comfort for People & Planet.

The Company has approximately 530 Express retail and Express Factory Outlet stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, the Express.com online store and the Express mobile app; approximately 60 Bonobos Guideshop locations and the Bonobos.com online store; and 12 UpWest retail stores and the UpWest.com online store. Express, Inc. is traded on the NYSE under the symbol EXPR. For more information about our Company, please visit www.express.com/investor and for more information about our brands, please visit www.express.com, www.bonobos.com or www.upwest.com.