Lakeland hires Tavarez as President of Brazilian unit

Lakeland Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce that on September 16, 2013, Mr. Eduardo Fernandes Tavarez assumed the role of President of Lakeland Brasil, S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Lakeland Industries, Inc. In his new capacity, Mr. Tavarez will be the senior executive responsible for all aspects of Lakeland Brasil. He will report to Lakeland Industries' Chief Operating Officer (COO) and the Vice President – International Sales.

Mr. Tavarez has prior experience in the Brazilian personal protective equipment (PPE) market and has successfully implemented and managed customer oriented, value added sales programs and has a proven track record of turning around sales organizations.

"We welcome Mr. Tavarez and look forward to supporting him in his efforts to revitalize Lakeland Brasil," said Mr. Chis Ryan, Chief Executive Office and President of Lakeland Industries. "His knowledge of the Brazilian PPE market and relationships with end users, distributors and suppliers, will be a tremendous asset as Lakeland Brasil focuses on growing sales and introducing new, value-added propositions to our customers.

In addition, Mr. Tavarez will complete the installation of an entirely new management team at Lakeland Brasil and is indicative of Lakeland Industries' continued commitment to the Brazilian market. The mission for Mr. Tavarez and his team is to revitalize customer relationships, grow sales, improve manufacturing processes, delivery, and customer service, and returning Lakeland Brasil to a position of market leadership."

Mr. Tavarez will work out of Lakeland's Sao Paulo, Brazil sales office, when not traveling in support of the management teams efforts to improve sales and customer relationships.

In June 2013, Lakeland obtained a $15 million Senior Credit Facility with AloStar Business Credit, a division of AloStar Bank of Commerce, and a $3.5 million subordinated term loan.

About Lakeland Industries, Inc.:

Lakeland Industries manufactures and sells a comprehensive line of safety garments and accessories for the industrial protective clothing market.  The Company's products are sold by a direct sales force and through independent sales representatives to a network of over 1,200 safety and mill supply distributors. These distributors in turn supply end user industrial customers such as chemical/petrochemical, automobile, steel, glass, construction, smelting, janitorial, and pharmaceutical and high technology electronics manufacturers, as well as hospitals and laboratories.

Lakeland Industries