Melissa Ludwig

Melissa Ludwig is a dynamic and results-oriented Board Director and senior executive, widely recognized for her expertise in governance, corporate strategy, and enterprise transformation. As Board Chair and CEO of NACD Philadelphia, she has accelerated membership growth, advanced governance education, and elevated board leadership across the region. Honored with the prestigious NACD Directorship 100 Award, Melissa is regarded as one of the nation’s most influential governance leaders. A visionary strategist, she has consistently delivered organizational growth by driving innovation, strengthening talent pipelines, and optimizing operational efficiency—all while ensuring a superior stakeholder and customer experience.

As an accomplished Senior and Group Vice President at Macy’s, Melissa held P&L accountability of up to $600M and led multidisciplinary teams ranging from 1,300 to 3,000 employees. She successfully executed mergers and acquisitions, brand conversions, supply chain enhancements, and digital innovations, playing a pivotal role in Macy’s omnichannel transformation. Partnering with Bain & Co., she pioneered a business localization strategy that reshaped the company’s national operating model.

Melissa is a trailblazer in retail leadership, having become the youngest and first woman in more than a century to lead Macy’s iconic Herald Square flagship. She revitalized the brand and delivered a $600M turnaround. Her leadership extended across key metropolitan markets—including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore—where she oversaw executive teams across Operations, Merchandising, Planning, Visual, HR, and Asset Protection. She also spearheaded the restoration and relaunch of Center City Philadelphia, reinforcing her deep ties to the region’s business community.

Internationally, Melissa brings a global perspective as Board Chair of a private company in Ireland. In higher education, she serves as an Advisory Board Member at Drexel University’s Governance Institute, a Trustee at Moravian University, and a Business Fellow at Villanova University, where she helped design a program on Entrepreneurial Leadership & Innovation. Passionate about advancing women in leadership, she is also a trusted advisor to C-suite executives on career development and governance. Melissa chairs Broad Street Angels, where she leads due diligence and connects investors with early-stage companies. Her nonprofit leadership includes service on the boards of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Susan G. Komen (Vice President), ALS, Mind Your Brain, The Forum of Executive Women, and the Philadelphia Women’s Forum. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial-Organizational & Clinical Counseling Psychology from Moravian University and a Governance Education Certificate from Drexel University’s Raj & Kamala Governance Institute. She has recently been recognized with the POWER Philadelphia Advocacy Award (2025).