Charming Shoppes BoD to separate CEO & Chairman duties

07 May '08

3 min read

Charming Shoppes Inc announced that it has made a proposal to settle the proxy contest related to the Company's 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Crescendo Partners and Myca Partners (the "Committee") have rejected this settlement offer, which included an offer of a seat on the Charming Shoppes' Board to Mr. Michael C. Appel, one of the Committee's director nominees.

Additionally, the Company announced that it intends to appoint to the Board, promptly following the May 8, 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, two experienced retail executives with significant industry experience: Mr. Richard W. Bennet, III, former Vice Chairman of The May Department Stores Company, and Mr. Michael Goldstein, former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Toys "R" Us Inc.

Neither of these individuals have any prior relationship with the Company, its Board of Directors, or its executives. Both Messrs. Bennet and Goldstein were evaluated by an independent search firm and recommended to the Board of Charming Shoppes. Detailed biographies of Messrs.

Katherine M. Hudson, lead independent director of Charming Shoppes' Board of Directors said, "We are pleased with the prospect of adding additional qualified, independent directors with proven retail industry experience to our Board, and are delighted to have attracted new Board members with the wealth of knowledge and solid retail experience that Rick and Mike possess.

Rick's leadership and management experience in the retail industry spans more than 30 years and Mike's far-reaching retail and financial executive careers encompass more than 35 years. We are confident that the new perspectives they can provide will be extremely valuable to the Company as we continue to strengthen our business."

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