Aeropostale Announces Executive Changes
24 September 2009 - 2:00PM
PR Newswire (US)
Julian R. Geiger Announces Intention to Step Down from Chief
Executive Officer Position Around the End of this Fiscal Year; Mr.
Geiger Will Continue to Serve as Chairman Mindy C. Meads and Thomas
P. Johnson to be Named Co-Chief Executive Officers Michael J.
Cunningham to be Named President NEW YORK, Sept. 24
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aeropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), a
mall-based specialty retailer of casual and active apparel for
young women and men, today announced that Julian R. Geiger has
advised the company that, in accordance with the terms of his
employment agreement, he expects to exercise the right of election
granted to him, thereby ending his service as Chief Executive
Officer at approximately the end of the company's current fiscal
year. Mr. Geiger has served as Aeropostale's CEO since 1996. Mr.
Geiger will continue to serve as Chairman of the company's Board of
Directors. As a result of Mr. Geiger's announcement, Aeropostale's
Board of Directors has designated Mindy C. Meads and Thomas P.
Johnson as Co-CEOs of the company commencing on the effective date
of Mr. Geiger's election. The Board also designated effective on
the same date, Michael J. Cunningham as President and Chief
Financial Officer. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Mr. Geiger
said, "Part of Aeropostale's unique culture is its emphasis on
developing a group of tremendously talented and dedicated
executives who will continue the outstanding performance that has
characterized our past, while maintaining the core values that we
believe make the company so special. We are therefore delighted by
the promotions of Mindy, Tom, and Michael." Ms. Meads has served as
President and Chief Merchandising Officer of Aeropostale since
March 2007. Prior to that, Ms. Meads was President and Chief
Executive Officer of Victoria's Secret Direct, a division of
Limited Brands, Inc. from August 2006 to January 2007. From 1998 to
2005, Ms. Meads served in various senior executive positions at
Lands' End, Inc. /Sears Holding, including President and Chief
Executive Officer, Executive Vice President Sears Apparel and
Executive Vice President Lands' End Apparel and Sourcing. From 1996
to 1998, Ms. Meads was Senior Vice President Merchandising, Design,
Planning and Allocation at Gymboree Corporation. Mr. Johnson has
served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of
Aeropostale since March 2004. From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Johnson was
Senior Vice President and Director of Stores at Aeropostale. In
2000, Mr. Johnson was Director of Stores for David's Bridal, Inc.
From 1997 to 2000, he was Senior Vice President and Director of
Stores for Brooks Brothers, Inc. Prior to that, Mr. Johnson held a
wide variety of senior executive positions at Aeropostale. Mr.
Cunningham has served as Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Aeropostale since March 2004. From 2000 to
2004, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
From 1997 to 1999 Mr. Cunningham was Chairman and Co-Founder of
Compass International Services Corporation. Prior to that, he held
various senior executive positions at the American Express Company.
Mr. Cunningham is a Certified Public Accountant. About Aeropostale,
Inc. Aeropostale, Inc. is a mall-based, specialty retailer of
casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17
year-old young women and men through its Aeropostale stores and 7
to 12 year-old kids through its P.S. from Aeropostale(TM) stores.
The Company provides customers with a focused selection of
high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic
merchandise at compelling values. Aeropostale maintains control
over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and
selling all of its own merchandise. Aeropostale products can only
be purchased in its Aeropostale stores and online at
http://www.aeropostale.com/. P.S. from Aeropostale(TM) products can
be purchased in P.S. from Aeropostale(TM) stores and online at
http://www.ps4u.com/. The Company currently operates 891
Aeropostale stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico, 39 Aeropostale
stores in Canada and 9 P.S. from Aeropostale stores in 2 states.
SPECIAL NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE AND ORAL STATEMENTS MADE FROM TIME
TO TIME BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY CONTAIN CERTAIN
"FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" CONCERNING EXPECTATIONS FOR SALES,
STORE OPENINGS, GROSS MARGINS, EXPENSES, STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND
EARNINGS. ACTUAL RESULTS MIGHT DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE
PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT
COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO MATERIALLY DIFFER INCLUDE, CHANGES IN
THE COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW
PRODUCTS OR PRICING CHANGES BY OUR COMPETITORS, CHANGES IN THE
ECONOMY AND OTHER EVENTS LEADING TO A REDUCTION IN DISCRETIONARY
CONSUMER SPENDING; SEASONALITY; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN
SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER CONDITIONS AND THE POSSIBLE
ADVERSE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS; RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS
GROWTH STRATEGIES, AS WELL AS THE OTHER RISK FACTORS SET FORTH IN
THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K AND QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q, FILED
WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES
NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO
REFLECT SUBSEQUENT EVENTS Company Contact: Kenneth Ohashi/Vice
President, Investor & Media Relations (646) 452-1876 or Media
Contact: Leigh Parrish/Diane Zappas, FD (212) 850-5600 DATASOURCE:
Aeropostale, Inc. CONTACT: Company Contact: Kenneth Ohashi, Vice
President, Investor & Media Relations, +1-646-452-1876, ; or
Media Contact: Leigh Parrish or Diane Zappas, both of FD,
+1-212-850-5600 Web Site: http://www.aeropostale.com/
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