Polo Ralph Lauren Announces Appointment of Arnold H. Aronson to Board of Directors

November 8, 2001

NEW YORK, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) announced the appointment of Arnold H. Aronson to the Company's Board of Directors. He replaces Allen Questrom who recently resigned from the board.

"I have known Arnold personally and professionally for over 20 years and I am very pleased that he has joined our Board of Directors. I have a deep respect for Arnold's experience as one of the industry's top merchants. His thoughtful and well-rounded approach, and his knowledge of the men's, women's and retail businesses will be an asset to Polo Ralph Lauren as we continue to expand our global brand," said Ralph Lauren, chairman and chief executive officer.

Arnold H. Aronson is currently a senior advisor to Kurt Salmon Associates (KSA), a global management consulting firm specializing in services to retail and consumer products companies. Mr. Aronson has spent over 30 years in the retail industry, highlighted by his roles as chairman and chief executive officer of Bullocks, Saks Fifth Avenue, the Batus Retail Group and Woodward & Lothrop/John Wanamaker.

Mr. Aronson began his retail career at Bloomingdales in 1959, rising to the position of divisional merchandise manager. He left Bloomingdales in 1969 to become executive vice president and general merchandise manager of the May Company. In 1972, Mr. Aronson joined Bullocks (now Macy's West, a division of Federated Department Stores) as president, and was later appointed to the position of chairman and chief executive officer.

Mr. Aronson became the chairman and chief executive officer of Saks Fifth Avenue in 1979. In 1983, he was named president, and later assumed the role of chairman and chief executive officer, of the Batus Retail Group, previously the parent entity of Saks Fifth Avenue, Marshall Field's, Kohl's, Gimbels, Ivey's, Frederick & Nelson, Crescent and Breuner's. Mr. Aronson formed his own investment firm in 1987, specializing in leveraged buyouts of retail businesses, and subsequently purchased an equity position in Woodward & Lothrop/John Wanamaker. In 1989, he became the company's chairman and chief executive officer. Immediately prior to joining Kurt Salmon Associates, Mr. Aronson served as partner in charge of management consulting at Levy-Kerson-Aronson & Associates, Inc.

Mr. Aronson currently serves as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Parsons School of Design and as vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of New School University in New York City. He received his bachelor's degree cum laude from Harvard College and his Master of Business Administration from Columbia University.

Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For more than 30 years, Polo's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include "Polo," "Polo by Ralph Lauren," "Polo Sport," "Ralph Lauren," "RALPH," "Lauren," "Polo Jeans Co.," "Chaps," and "Club Monaco" among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands.

CONTACT: Ellen Maguire, Public Relations of Polo Ralph Lauren