Executive Biographies

W. Howard Lester

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

Howard Lester is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer and has been with Williams-Sonoma, Inc. since he purchased the company in November 1978. Since that time, the company has grown from one brand with four stores and $4 million in annual revenues to a nationwide specialty retailer. Today, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is comprised of six distinct merchandise brands - Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, west elm and Williams-Sonoma Home - with over 600 stores, seven direct mail catalogs and six e-commerce websites. Mr. Lester took the company public in 1983, and its stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under symbol WSM.

Mr. Lester has held the positions of President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. He has served as Chairman of the Board since 1986, and previously served as Chief Executive Officer from 1979 to 2001. He was reappointed as Chief Executive Officer in July 2006.

Prior to purchasing the company, Mr. Lester spent 18 years in the computer industry. He began selling computers in 1958, and from 1961 to 1972, created several of his own computer service and software businesses, eventually serving as vice president for the country's then top software company, Computer Sciences Corporation. He subsequently left to develop Centurex Corp., which became one of the leading suppliers of software systems to America's banks in the 1970s. After selling the company in 1976, he "retired," only to purchase Williams-Sonoma a short time later.

In addition to Mr. Lester's leadership of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., he has served on many industry and philanthropic boards during his career. He and his wife, Mary, also actively support education, medical research and the arts. In 1991, Mr. Lester endowed The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the Haas School. In 2005, the Lesters endowed a new addition to the University of Oklahoma's Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, designed by acclaimed architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen.

Mr. Lester presently serves on the Executive Council of UCSF, and the Advisory Boards of the Retail Management Institute of Santa Clara University and the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a national trustee of The First Tee.

Mr. Lester's past board leadership includes Boy Scouts of America, Conner Peripherals Inc., Harold's Stores, Inc., Il Fornaio (America) Corporation, International Association of Shopping Centers, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and The Good Guys, Inc.

Mr. Lester was born and raised in Oklahoma and attended the University of Oklahoma. Among his many honors, he was elected to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2001, named Haas School's Business Leader of the Year in 2003, and awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Oklahoma in 2004. In 2007, he was recognized as Lifetime Humanitarian by the Housewares Charity Foundation. In 2008, Mr. Lester and Chuck Williams, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s Founder and Director Emeritus, received the Direct Marketing Association’s highest honor by being inducted into its Hall of Fame.

Charles E. "Chuck" Williams

Founder and Director Emeritus

In 1956, Chuck Williams purchased a hardware store in downtown Sonoma, California with the intention of converting it into a store specializing in French cookware. Within two years the shovels and electrical tape had been replaced with copper pans and chefs' knives, and the first Williams-Sonoma store was born. Mr. Williams was introduced to classic, quality French cooking equipment, including unique items like omelet pans and soufflé molds, on his annual trip to France. Soon Williams-Sonoma became the country's first retailer to carry a collection of French cookware.

He moved his store to San Francisco's Sutter Street in 1958. With the continuing growth of the business, he created its first catalog, which was mailed to 5,000 homes in 1971. In 1973, a second store was opened in Beverly Hills. Today the company operates over 250 Williams-Sonoma stores across the U.S. and Canada.

Mr. Williams is an integral part of many aspects of the business, from finding unique kitchenware and food items, to providing advice for catalog production and photography. He has been involved with the publication of nearly 250 Williams-Sonoma cookbooks, acting as the General Editor for the Williams-Sonoma Kitchen Library series, the New American Cooking series, the Savoring series and the Mastering series. He has always embraced the ideals of quality merchandise and outstanding customer service. These ideals and his impeccable taste have set the tone of Williams-Sonoma since its inception.

Mr. Williams served on the Board of the American Institute of Wine and Food, the Board of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) and has contributed a personal collection of cooking artifacts to the West Coast branch of the CIA at Greystone in St. Helena. He has always been interested in encouraging those who choose a vocation in the culinary arts and has made numerous scholarships available through the CIA and other organizations. In 2002, he was inducted into the CIA's Hall of Fame.

In 1994, the James Beard Foundation named Mr. Williams to the Who's Who of Food and Beverage and in 1995, awarded him with their highest honor, The Lifetime Achievement Award. Bon Appetit magazine named him the Tastemaker of the Year for 1999, he was awarded the 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Association of Culinary Professionals, and in 2003, he was recognized by the Housewares Foundation as Humanitarian of the Year. Also in 2003, he was the guest of honor at The James Beard Foundation's annual Chefs & Champagne benefit in Sagaponack, New York. In 2006, he was honored as a Visionary Retailer at the seventh annual Giants of Design Awards presented by House Beautiful in New York City.

In 2007, Mr. Williams and Howard Lester, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Williams-Sonoma, Inc., received the Inc Magazine Bernard A. Goldhirsh Lifetime Achievement Award, an acknowledgement to those who honor the values and virtues of American entrepreneurship. In 2008, Mr. Williams and Mr. Lester received the Direct Marketing Association’s highest honor by being inducted into its Hall of Fame.

Laura J. Alber

President

Laura Alber is President, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. and is responsible for leading the Pottery Barn portfolio of brands, West Elm, and the company's global supply chain, distribution, and logistics strategies.

Ms. Alber joined Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in 1995, and was appointed to her current role in 2006. Under her leadership, several of the company's most impressive growth strategies have been incubated, including the creation of Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Bed + Bath, and PBteen, and the multi-channel expansion of the Pottery Barn brand. She also plays an instrumental role in the company's global supply chain, distribution, and logistics strategies, which are increasing product quality, improving customer service, and driving efficiency. Additionally, Ms. Alber is leading the company's expansion into the Middle East beginning in 2010.

Ms. Alber started her tenure at the company as a Senior Buyer for Pottery Barn. Since then, she has held numerous brand management roles within the company including the positions of President, Pottery Barn Brands; Executive Vice President, Pottery Barn Merchandising; and Senior Vice President Pottery Barn Catalog and Pottery Barn Kids Retail. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Alber worked at Gap Inc. and Contempo Casuals. She has over 20 years experience in the retail industry.

Ms. Alber holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Patrick J. Connolly

Director, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

Pat Connolly is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer and oversees all aspects of marketing for the company. Mr. Connolly joined Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in May of 1979, and has served as a Director on the company’s Board since 1983. During his tenure, he has focused on building the company's direct-to-customer business including the growth and marketing of its seven catalogs, the introduction and development of its e-commerce business, and the strategic implementation of its multi-channel retailing strategy.

Mr. Connolly started his tenure at the company as Vice President of Mail Order, and has held the positions of Senior Vice President, Mail Order, and Executive Vice President, GM Catalog. Prior to joining Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Mr. Connolly held positions with Procter & Gamble, Xerox Computer Services, and founded or co-founded three mail order companies, including Sportswares with tennis star Billie Jean King.

Mr. Connolly has also served on the boards of numerous companies and non-profit organizations. For the past six years he has served on the board of the Direct Marketing Association. He currently serves as Chair of the Management Board of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and as a Director of CafePress.com. He is a frequent speaker on direct marketing and multi-channel retailing.

Mr. Connolly holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University and an M.B.A. from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.

Sharon L. McCollam

Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer

Sharon McCollam is Executive Vice President, Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer. She is responsible for overseeing the company's finance, accounting, treasury, investor relations, information technology, human resources, corporate procurement, corporate facilities, and business process integration functions.

Ms. McCollam joined Williams-Sonoma, Inc. in March 2000, as the Vice President of Finance and was promoted to the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in October 2000. She was promoted to the position of Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer in May 2003 and to her current position in July 2006.

Throughout her career at Williams-Sonoma, Inc., Ms. McCollam has been a highly influential cross-functional leader, and has helped the company achieve new levels of financial and operational performance.

Prior to joining the company, Ms. McCollam most recently served as a divisional Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Dole Food Company, Inc. She began her career in public accounting with Ernst and Young, and subsequently held Controller, International Controller and Chief Financial Officer positions in divisions of two Fortune 500 companies. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Del Monte Foods.

Ms. McCollam holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.