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Rosskamm to serve as Interim CEO at Charming Shoppes
10 Jul '08
3 min read
Charming Shoppes Inc announced the resignation of Dorrit J. Bern as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors, effective immediately. The Company's Chairman of the Board, Alan Rosskamm, former Chairman and CEO of Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. and 15-year veteran of the Charming Shoppes' board, will serve as CEO on an interim basis. The Company's Board of Directors has formed a special committee to undertake an immediate search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
Separately, the Company announced that Brian P. Woolf, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cache, Inc., has been appointed President of the Lane Bryant brand, effective immediately, and will succeed LuAnn Via. Via has tendered her resignation in order to pursue a leadership position at another retailer and will be leaving the Company after a short transition period.
Brian Woolf has served in various retail-industry management and merchandising positions over the past three decades. Before joining Cache, he held senior merchandising positions at a number of well-known retailers, including Limited Stores, Marshall's, Lazarus, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Rosskamm commented, "Brian's long history of accomplishments in the women's apparel business includes the successful turnaround at Cache. We are very pleased that he has agreed to join us and lead our Lane Bryant brand."
Woolf commented, "I am extremely pleased to be joining Charming Shoppes, and am assuming the leadership responsibility for the Lane Bryant brand with a great deal of enthusiasm. I have tremendous esteem for this market-leading brand that has been serving women's apparel needs for more than 100 years. I look forward to working closely with our talented team in Columbus, Ohio and building on the strength of this brand to ensure its future success."
Rosskamm commented, "Charming Shoppes has a talented management team, led by Joe Baron, Chief Operating Officer, and Eric Specter, Chief Financial Officer, with a proven record of navigating challenging retail and economic environments. Our priorities are to refocus our energies on our core brands -- Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines -- and to leverage our leading market share position in women's specialty plus apparel.
With this renewed focus, I am confident that the support and commitment of our associates around the globe will enable us to build upon the strength of these brands to achieve future success. The Company's balance sheet and cash flows remain strong, despite the challenging economy, and the Company maintains ample liquidity through an unused $375 million committed bank revolving credit facility."
Commenting on Ms. Bern's departure from the Company, Rosskamm stated, "Dorrit and the Board agreed that now is the appropriate time for a change in leadership of the Company. Her leadership resulted in the repositioning of Charming Shoppes as a multi-brand, multi-channel specialty apparel retailer, and the nation's leader in women's specialty plus apparel."
During the second quarter ending August 2, 2008, the Company anticipates an after-tax charge in the range of $5 - $6 million, or $0.04 - $0.05 per diluted share, related to the terms of Ms. Bern's employment agreement.
Separately, the Company announced that Brian P. Woolf, the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cache, Inc., has been appointed President of the Lane Bryant brand, effective immediately, and will succeed LuAnn Via. Via has tendered her resignation in order to pursue a leadership position at another retailer and will be leaving the Company after a short transition period.
Brian Woolf has served in various retail-industry management and merchandising positions over the past three decades. Before joining Cache, he held senior merchandising positions at a number of well-known retailers, including Limited Stores, Marshall's, Lazarus, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Rosskamm commented, "Brian's long history of accomplishments in the women's apparel business includes the successful turnaround at Cache. We are very pleased that he has agreed to join us and lead our Lane Bryant brand."
Woolf commented, "I am extremely pleased to be joining Charming Shoppes, and am assuming the leadership responsibility for the Lane Bryant brand with a great deal of enthusiasm. I have tremendous esteem for this market-leading brand that has been serving women's apparel needs for more than 100 years. I look forward to working closely with our talented team in Columbus, Ohio and building on the strength of this brand to ensure its future success."
Rosskamm commented, "Charming Shoppes has a talented management team, led by Joe Baron, Chief Operating Officer, and Eric Specter, Chief Financial Officer, with a proven record of navigating challenging retail and economic environments. Our priorities are to refocus our energies on our core brands -- Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug and Catherines -- and to leverage our leading market share position in women's specialty plus apparel.
With this renewed focus, I am confident that the support and commitment of our associates around the globe will enable us to build upon the strength of these brands to achieve future success. The Company's balance sheet and cash flows remain strong, despite the challenging economy, and the Company maintains ample liquidity through an unused $375 million committed bank revolving credit facility."
Commenting on Ms. Bern's departure from the Company, Rosskamm stated, "Dorrit and the Board agreed that now is the appropriate time for a change in leadership of the Company. Her leadership resulted in the repositioning of Charming Shoppes as a multi-brand, multi-channel specialty apparel retailer, and the nation's leader in women's specialty plus apparel."
During the second quarter ending August 2, 2008, the Company anticipates an after-tax charge in the range of $5 - $6 million, or $0.04 - $0.05 per diluted share, related to the terms of Ms. Bern's employment agreement.
Charming Shoppes Inc
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