Charming Shoppes Announces Executive Leadership Appointments

BENSALEM, Pa., Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Charming Shoppes, Inc. (Nasdaq: CHRS) a leading apparel retailer specializing in women's plus-size apparel, today announced the following executive leadership announcements.

Bryan Q. Eshelman has been promoted to Executive Vice President - Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective immediately. Eshelman joined Charming Shoppes in 2010 as Senior Vice President - Operations, with responsibility for technology, logistics, technical design and quality assurance.  As Chief Supply Chain Officer, he will retain responsibility for the aforementioned functions and assume the additional responsibility for the Company's global direct sourcing operations, including, its buying offices in Hong Kong, China, and India, strategic sourcing across all product categories and brands, vendor compliance, and international trade and customs compliance. In his expanded role, Eshelman is charged with accelerating the expansion and penetration of the Company's vertical model and leveraging its supply chain to its fullest across all brands. Since joining Charming Shoppes, he has led a number of key initiatives relating to Charming Shoppes' IT systems transformation and multi-faceted supply chain strategies. Eshelman continues to report directly to Anthony M. Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charming Shoppes, Inc.

The Company also announced that Donna Isralsky has joined Charming Shoppes as Senior Vice President - Strategic Sourcing, reporting to Eshelman. Isralsky will be responsible for numerous strategic initiatives, supporting the expansion and penetration of the Company's vertical model, and managing relationships with key suppliers. She has extensive experience in retail sourcing across all product categories, having spent her career as a senior sourcing executive and business leader at Williams-Sonoma, Reebok, and Target/Mervyns.

Commenting on Eshelman's promotion, Anthony M. Romano, President and Chief Executive Officer of Charming Shoppes, Inc. stated, "I am very pleased to announce Bryan's well-deserved promotion.  During his tenure at Charming Shoppes, he has driven dramatic improvements in the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations and is working on a number of strategic initiatives that will help us maximize results and drive profitability."

On Isralsky's appointment, Eshelman said, "We are very happy that Donna has chosen to join Charming Shoppes. She brings a wealth of experience in retail sourcing and will help us to maximize our sourcing capabilities in a number of strategic growth areas."

At October 29, 2011, Charming Shoppes, Inc. operated 1,929 retail stores in 48 states under the names LANE BRYANT®, CACIQUE®, LANE BRYANT OUTLET®, FASHION BUG®, FASHION BUG PLUS® and CATHERINES PLUS SIZES®.  The Company also operates the Figi's family of brands, including the holiday food and gifts catalog Figi's® Gifts in Good Taste®, the home and gifts catalog Figi's® Gallery and its wholesale unit Figi's Business Services. For more information about Charming Shoppes and its brands, please visit www.charmingshoppes.com, www.lanebryant.com, www.cacique.com, www.fashionbug.com, www.catherines.com, www.loop18.com, www.figis.com, and www.figisgallery.com.

SOURCE Charming Shoppes, Inc.