Sears Names J.C. Penney Executive to Lead Global Apparel Sourcing

Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) today named former J.C. Penney executive Rodney M. Birkins, Jr. to the post of senior vice president of sourcing, effective Sept. 1. He will report to Gwen Manto, Sears executive vice president and general manager, apparel.

Birkins, 49, will oversee all sourcing, international buying operations and technical design efforts for Sears.

"Rodney is a proven leader with key industry knowledge and a reputation for achieving results," Manto said. "His expertise in global sourcing, international operations and emerging markets will play a key role at Sears as we take our apparel business to the next level."

Birkins most recently served as president of the international purchasing and import subsidiary of J.C. Penney Company, Inc., responsible for the company's sourcing operations including 31 international offices. He brings nearly 30 years of retailing, merchandising and sourcing experience to Sears from his career at J.C. Penney. He holds a bachelor's degree in business administration the University of South Carolina.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2003 of $41.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears is the only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million service calls made annually.

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Media, Lee Antonio of Sears, Roebuck and Co., +1-847-286-5569

Web site: http://www.sears.com/