Kleman to Stay on as CFO and Board Member until Successor is Named
FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Chico's FAS, Inc.
(NYSE: CHS) today reported that Charles J. Kleman has announced his plan to
step down from his position as the Company's Executive Vice President--Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer. Mr. Kleman intends to remain fully engaged
with his current duties and as a member of the Board of Directors until a new
CFO and Treasurer is appointed by the Board and he has committed to ensure a
successful transition. Consistent with carrying out this succession, the
Company announced that it will immediately begin a national search for Mr.
Kleman's successor and that it has engaged a national search firm for this
purpose.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030428/CHICOLOGO)
Mr. Kleman indicated his further intent to remain with Chico's following
the identification and appointment of his successor, continuing his work in
the areas of Investor Relations and financial modeling. Mr. Kleman will also
chair Chico's Charities, Inc., the charitable organization that was
established last year by the Company.
Charles J. Kleman commented, "It has been a pleasure to work with everyone
in the Chico's family as CFO for the past 18 plus years and I am gratified to
be part of the team that has accomplished so much over my time here, as we
moved from a struggling, small retailer in the 80's and 90's to a public
company that prides itself on creating a work environment promoting honesty,
ethics and treatment of every employee and customer with respect and fairness.
My time here has been the most rewarding period of my professional career."
Mr. Kleman continued, "This Company has ambitions that, frankly, could
benefit from executive skills that I'm not necessarily in a position to bring
to the table. On the other hand, I'm certainly not ready to retire and I am
thrilled that, following the appointment of my successor, the Company is
willing to assign to me responsibilities within the Chico's organization that
will enable me to help assure we maintain the culture that we have so
carefully nurtured."
Scott A. Edmonds, President & CEO, commented, "After more than 18 years of
dedicated service, Charlie Kleman has decided it is time for someone new to
take on the role of our CFO. There is simply no way to describe what Charlie
has meant to the Chico's organization. He has been instrumental in creating
our unique culture and will always by a part of the Company's DNA. I am
delighted that Charlie has agreed that, after his successor takes over, he
will remain actively involved with Chico's by continuing his great work in a
number of key areas. Charlie knows this Company probably better than anyone.
I can assure you that I will continue to look to Charlie for his guidance and
direction and to help me to maintain the core values and unique culture our
Company has created over the years."
Mr. Edmonds continued, "We will immediately begin a national search for
the next world class CFO who can strategically support our long term future
growth initiatives."
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 920 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 has 554 Chico's
front-line stores, 34 Chico's outlet stores, 254 White House | Black Market
front-line stores, 16 White House | Black Market outlet stores, 52 Soma by
Chico's stores, 9 Fitigues front-line stores and 1 Fitigues outlet store.
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 under Our Company
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 under Our Company
Executive Contacts:
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- 02/08/2007
/CONTACT: Charles J. Kleman, Executive Vice President, 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: NewsCom: 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
SU: PER
DL-DL
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3339 02/08/2007 16:05 EST http://www.prnewswire.com