09/23/04 | Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Announces March 2005 Retirement of Division President

PRESS RELEASE WILLIAMS-SONOMA, INC. 3250 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94109

CONTACT: Patricia Sellman Vice President, Public Relations (415) 733-3168 Stephen C. Nelson Director, Investor Relations (415) 616-8754

              

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      

 

 

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Announces March 2005 Retirement of Division President

 

San Francisco, CA, September 23, 2004 -- Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE: WSM) today announced that Patrick Cowell, President of the Williams-Sonoma brand, would be retiring in March 2005.  In the interim, Mr. Cowell will be working closely with Howard Lester, Chairman, and Ed Mueller, Chief Executive Officer, to ensure an effective transition.

 

Mr. Cowell commented, “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to be part of such a great company.  I continue to be amazed by the creativity and entrepreneurial spirit that live within the culture and am very proud of our accomplishments over the last three years.”

 

The Company plans to begin a search for Mr. Cowell’s replacement, both internally and externally, and expects to name a new brand head in the first quarter of 2005.

 

Mr. Mueller, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We would like to thank Pat for his many contributions during his tenure, and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

 

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is a nationwide specialty retailer of high quality products for the home.  These products, representing seven distinct merchandise strategies – Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, Hold Everything, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma Home – are marketed through 526 stores, eight mail order catalogs and five e-commerce websites.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the expected retirement date of Mr. Cowell, our effective transition to a new brand head and the timing of naming a replacement.  The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the possibility that Mr. Cowell would change his planned retirement date, any delay in locating and retaining a new brand head, the general risks associated with management transitions and other risks and uncertainties contained in our public announcements, reports to shareholders and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2004 and all quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the following fiscal quarters. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date of the statements, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.