Jerome Jessup Named to Senior Executive Vice President For Merchandise and Design at Ann Taylor Stores

    NEW YORK, April 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jerome Jessup has been named
 Senior Executive Vice President for Merchandise and Design at Ann Taylor
 Stores, it was announced today by Ann Taylor Chairman, J. Patrick Spainhour.
 In his new position, Mr. Jessup will report directly to Mr. Spainhour.
     Jessup joins Ann Taylor from Gap, Inc. where he had been Executive Vice
 President-Product Development and Design for Gap, GapKids, babyGap and Body.
 Prior to that position, he was at the company's Banana Republic division
 responsible for product development and design.
     "Jerome's extensive product and brand management experience will help us
 achieve greater consistency and excitement at Ann Taylor Stores," said
 Spainhour.  "As a critical member of the senior management team, he will
 intensify our client focus to assure we meet our clients' expectations season
 after season.
     "Ann Taylor Loft continues to deliver upon its expectations and we are
 confident in Kay Krill's ability to take the Loft division to the next level.
 Kay's expertise as President of Ann Taylor Loft and a tenured Ann Taylor
 associate of nine years will play an integral role in helping Jerome apply his
 product and creative talents to the Ann Taylor division," Spainhour said.
     Prior to his joining Gap in 1993, Jessup had been design director at Liz
 Claiborne and Adrienne Vittidini and a designer at Perry Ellis and Carmelo
 Pomodoro.  He received his academic degrees from both FIT and Parsons School
 of Design.
     Ann Taylor is one of the country's leading women's specialty retailers,
 operating 588 stores in 42 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico,
 and also an Online Store at www.anntaylor.com.
 
     FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
     Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements
 made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
 Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  The forward-looking statements may use the
 words "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "project," "believe" and
 similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's
 current expectations concerning future events and actual results may differ
 materially from current expectations or historical results.  Any such
 forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties,
 including failure by the Company to predict accurately customer fashion
 preferences; decline in the demand for merchandise offered by the Company;
 competitive influences; changes in levels of store traffic or consumer
 spending habits; effectiveness of the Company's brand awareness and marketing
 programs; general economic conditions or a downturn in the retail industry;
 the inability of the Company to locate new store sites or negotiate favorable
 lease terms for additional stores or for the expansion of existing stores;
 lack of sufficient consumer interest in the Company's Online Store; a
 significant change in the regulatory environment applicable to the Company's
 business; an increase in the rate of import duties or export quotas with
 respect to the Company's merchandise; financial or political instability in
 any of the countries in which the Company's goods are manufactured; acts of
 war or terrorism in the United States or worldwide; work stoppages, slowdowns
 or strikes; and other factors set forth in the Company's filings with the SEC.
 The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-
 looking statements at any time for any reason.
 
 

SOURCE  Ann Taylor