Abercrombie & Fitch today announced the election of Daniel J. Brestle to the Company's Board of Directors.
Mr. Brestle currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Mr. Brestle joined Estee Lauder over 27 years ago, where he began his career as a Distribution and Plant Manager and, through a succession of promotions, became Group President in 2001 and Chief Operating Officer earlier this year.
“We are pleased to add another experienced and independent member to our Board of Directors,” said Mike Jeffries, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Abercrombie & Fitch. “Dan's expertise with the global, prestigious Estee Lauder brands will be invaluable to our Board. His experience in the management of a publicly traded company also is important to us, as is his qualification as an independent Board member under NYSE Rules. We believe Dan is an excellent fit with us, and we are excited about his election to our Board.”
Mr. Brestle was elected as a director by the Company's Board of Directors earlier today. At that meeting, the Board took action to expand its number from ten to eleven, and Mr. Brestle was elected to fill the vacancy created by that expansion. He joins the Company's class of directors (John Golden, Edward Limato and Robert Singer) whose terms of office will expire at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders.
Also earlier today at the Company's annual stockholders meeting, Russell Gertmenian, Archie Griffin and Allan Tuttle were elected to the Board of Directors by the Company's stockholders.
The Company operated 351 Abercrombie & Fitch stores, 167 abercrombie stores, 271 Hollister Co. stores and 5 RUEHL stores at the end of fiscal May. The Company operates e-commerce websites at http://www.abercrombie.com , http://www.abercrombiekids.com , and http://www.hollisterco.com .