URGI United Retail Grp. (MM)

United Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-GM: �URGI�) today announced that the Company has appointed Dr. Patricia A. Ippoliti as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Dr. Ippoliti joins United Retail Group with more than 25 years experience in leadership development, organizational effectiveness and human resources. Raphael Benaroya, the Company�s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: �Patti will serve as a key executive as we continue to expand our business. Her initial charge will be to address our growth initiative in improving same store productivity, opening new stores, and expanding our Avenue Body and Shop at Home business by recruiting and strengthening leadership and creative talent in our organization. Patti will focus on further building the quality and momentum of talent across United Retail Group.� Prior to joining United Retail Group, Patti held the position of Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources for International Specialty Stores and as Chief Human Resources Manager for Zentropy Partners, the e-marketing division of Interpublic Group of Companies. Dr. Ippoliti has also held senior management positions in human resources for AON Consulting, KB Toy Stores and Reebok. She began her career at Scott Paper Company where she served in positions of increasing responsibility from 1977 to 1992. Dr. Ippoliti�s human resources experience includes strategic planning, organizational development and effectiveness, and leadership development, as well as compensation, benefits and performance management and succession planning. She graduated cum laude with a B.S. in accounting from Villanova University and holds an M.B.A. in human resources as well as a Ph.D. in organizational development from Temple University. Mr. Benaroya added: �Patti is a seasoned human resources executive with strong organizational and leadership development skills. She has demonstrated success in creating high-performance cultures, and in building the leadership capability needed for companies as they expand. We are delighted to have her join our management team and we look forward to her contributions to the Company as we continue to focus on the long-term growth of the business.� United Retail Group, Inc. is a specialty retailer of large-size women�s fashion apparel, footwear and accessories featuring AVENUE� brand merchandise. The Company operates 490 AVENUE� stores with 2,157,000 square feet of selling space, as well as the AVENUE.COM� website at www.avenue.com. The above release contains certain brief forward-looking statements concerning the Company�s operations and performance. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are summary in nature, involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company�s control. Accordingly, the Company�s future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. The following additional factors, among others, could also affect the Company�s actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: threats of terrorism; war risk; shifts in consumer spending patterns, overall economic conditions; the impact of increased competition; variations in weather patterns; uncertainties relating to execution of the Company�s product repositioning strategy; store lease expirations; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the ability of the Company�s manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; political instability and other risks associated with foreign sources of production and increases in fuel costs. The reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company�s operations and performance. The Company does not intend to update the forward-looking statements contained in the above release, which should not be relied upon as current after today�s date. United Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ-GM: "URGI") today announced that the Company has appointed Dr. Patricia A. Ippoliti as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Dr. Ippoliti joins United Retail Group with more than 25 years experience in leadership development, organizational effectiveness and human resources. Raphael Benaroya, the Company's Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "Patti will serve as a key executive as we continue to expand our business. Her initial charge will be to address our growth initiative in improving same store productivity, opening new stores, and expanding our Avenue Body and Shop at Home business by recruiting and strengthening leadership and creative talent in our organization. Patti will focus on further building the quality and momentum of talent across United Retail Group." Prior to joining United Retail Group, Patti held the position of Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spas. Previously, she served as Senior Vice President, Human Resources for International Specialty Stores and as Chief Human Resources Manager for Zentropy Partners, the e-marketing division of Interpublic Group of Companies. Dr. Ippoliti has also held senior management positions in human resources for AON Consulting, KB Toy Stores and Reebok. She began her career at Scott Paper Company where she served in positions of increasing responsibility from 1977 to 1992. Dr. Ippoliti's human resources experience includes strategic planning, organizational development and effectiveness, and leadership development, as well as compensation, benefits and performance management and succession planning. She graduated cum laude with a B.S. in accounting from Villanova University and holds an M.B.A. in human resources as well as a Ph.D. in organizational development from Temple University. Mr. Benaroya added: "Patti is a seasoned human resources executive with strong organizational and leadership development skills. She has demonstrated success in creating high-performance cultures, and in building the leadership capability needed for companies as they expand. We are delighted to have her join our management team and we look forward to her contributions to the Company as we continue to focus on the long-term growth of the business." United Retail Group, Inc. is a specialty retailer of large-size women's fashion apparel, footwear and accessories featuring AVENUE(R) brand merchandise. The Company operates 490 AVENUE(R) stores with 2,157,000 square feet of selling space, as well as the AVENUE.COM(R) website at www.avenue.com. The above release contains certain brief forward-looking statements concerning the Company's operations and performance. The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements are summary in nature, involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, the Company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. The following additional factors, among others, could also affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this release or otherwise made by management: threats of terrorism; war risk; shifts in consumer spending patterns, overall economic conditions; the impact of increased competition; variations in weather patterns; uncertainties relating to execution of the Company's product repositioning strategy; store lease expirations; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the ability of the Company's manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; political instability and other risks associated with foreign sources of production and increases in fuel costs. The reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and performance. The Company does not intend to update the forward-looking statements contained in the above release, which should not be relied upon as current after today's date.