FORT MYERS, Fla., April 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chico's FAS, Inc.
(NYSE: CHS) today announced several key management promotions.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030428/CHICOLOGO )
Michael L. Shell, 46, has been promoted to Vice President/Controller -
Accounting. Mr. Shell joined the Company in March 2000 as Assistant Controller
and was promoted to Controller - Accounting in 2003. From 1990 to 2000, Mr.
Shell was employed at Childtime Learning Centers, most recently as Controller.
Prior to 1990, Mr. Shell held various positions with Duane E. Foster &
Associates as well as Earl Lairson & Company, local public accounting firms,
and has nearly twenty-five years experience in accounting.
J. Brian Bitzer, 45, has been promoted to Vice President/Controller - Tax
and Finance. Mr. Bitzer joined the Company in 2001 as Assistant Controller -
Tax and Finance and was promoted to Controller - Tax and Finance in 2003.
From 1993 to 2001, Mr. Bitzer was employed by The Mark Group, Inc., as
Assistant Controller. Prior to 1993, Mr. Bitzer held various management and
accounting positions with Broad Marketing Associates, Rachlin & Cohen, CPA,
and Thermoguard, Inc. and has nearly twenty years experience in accounting.
Steven A. Ross, 42, has been promoted to Vice President - Technology.
Prior to joining the Company in 2003 as Director of Technology, Mr. Ross held
the position of Group Director - Information Security Group for Target,
Manager of Technologies Group for American Express, Senior Systems
Administrator for NCCI as well as various positions with DirecTV, Motorola and
Allied, Inc.
Elaina Silvestri, 53, has been promoted to Vice President - Sales East.
Ms. Silvestri joined the Company in November 1999. She has worked as a
District Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, and National Director of Sales
East. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Silvestri was Vice President of
Retail for Meridian Fashion, Vice President Retail Division and Director of
Stores for Image Inc., having also worked for Harfred and the Monaco
Group/Alfred Sung. Ms. Silvestri has over twenty-five years in the retail
industry.
Mathew W. Deziak, 38, has been promoted to Vice President - Sales West.
Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Deziak was Regional Vice President for Ann
Taylor from 1999 through joining the Company. Prior, Mr. Deziak was a
District Manager and General Manager for Ann Taylor, and previously held
management positions for Gap and Macy's.
Rabia Farhang, 42, has been promoted to Vice President/General Merchandise
Manager for White House | Black Market. Ms. Farhang joined the Company in
1997 as a Merchant. She was subsequently promoted to Merchandise Manager in
March 2005 over Woven Tops and Bottoms, Sweaters, and Knits and to General
Merchandise Manager in September 2005. Prior to joining the company, Ms.
Farhang was Regional Manager of Cosmetics for Hecht's May Corporation and held
various merchandising positions with Woodward & Lothrop and John Wanamaker.
Joshua F. Rosenfeld, 43, has been promoted to Vice President - Planning
and Allocation for White House | Black Market. Mr. Rosenfeld joined White
House | Black Market in January 2004 as Director of Planning and Allocation.
Prior to joining the company, Mr. Rosenfeld held positions as Senior Director
of Planning for Anne Klein at Kasper ASL, Vice President of Brooks Brothers,
and Senior Planner for Ann Taylor.
Scott A. Edmonds, President and CEO, commented, "We are delighted to
recognize and reward the dedication, talent, and energy that these leaders
bring to the Company. I expect they will all continue to play an important
role in contributing to the Company's continued growth and success."
The Company is a specialty retailer of private label, sophisticated,
casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other
non-clothing gift items. The Company operates 791 women's specialty stores,
including stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin
Islands and Puerto Rico operating under the Chico's, White House | Black
Market, Soma by Chico's and Fitigues names. The Company owns 507 Chico's
front-line stores, 31 Chico's outlet stores, 202 White House | Black Market
front-line stores, 8 White House | Black Market outlet stores, 18 Soma by
Chico's stores, 11 Fitigues front-line stores and 1 Fitigues outlet store;
franchisees own and operate 13 Chico's stores.
Certain statements contained herein, including without limitation,
statements addressing the beliefs, plans, objectives, estimates or
expectations of the Company or future results or events constitute "forward-
looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known
or unknown risks, including, but not limited to, general economic and business
conditions, and conditions in the specialty retail industry. There can be no
assurance that the actual future results, performance, or achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur. Users of
forward-looking statements are encouraged to review the Company's latest
annual report on Form 10-K, its filings on Form 10-Q, management's discussion
and analysis in the Company's latest annual report to stockholders, the
Company's filings on Form 8-K, and other federal securities law filings for a
description of other important factors that may affect the Company's business,
results of operations and financial condition. The Company does not undertake
to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience
or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in
such statements will not be realized.
For more detailed information, please call (877) 424-4267 to listen to the
Company's monthly sales information and investor relations line
A copy of a slide show addressing the Company's recent financial results and
current plans for expansion is available on the Company's website at
http://www.chicos.com in the investor relations section
Additional investor information on Chico's FAS, Inc. is available free of
charge on the Company's website at http://www.chicos.com in the investor
relations section
Executive Contact:
Charles J. Kleman
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
Chico's FAS, Inc.
(239) 274-4105
F. Michael Smith
Vice President
Investor and Community Relations
Chico's FAS, Inc.
(239) 274-4797
SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc.
-0- 04/17/2006
/CONTACT: Charles J. Kleman, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, +1-239-274-4105, or F. Michael Smith, Vice President, Investor and
Community Relations, +1-239-274-4797, both of Chico's FAS, Inc./
/Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030428/CHICOLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com /
/Web site: http://www.chicos.com /
(CHS)
CO: Chico's FAS, Inc.
ST: Florida
IN: REA FAS
SU: PER
AC-DS
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9728 04/17/2006 11:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com