Jones Apparel Group Appoints Aru Kulkarni President of Sales of the Women's Wholesale...

Jones Apparel Group Appoints Aru Kulkarni President of Sales of the Women's
Wholesale Sportswear Division

NEW YORK, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
(NYSE: JNY) ("Jones") today announced that Aru Kulkarni has been appointed
President of Sales of the Women's Wholesale Sportswear division, effective
immediately. In this newly created role, Ms. Kulkarni will oversee all
wholesale sales functions, including developing and coordinating wholesale
sales programs and strategies for Anne Klein New York, AK Anne Klein, Nine
West Sportswear and Jones New York Collection, Signature and Sport. Ms.
Kulkarni will report to Susan Metzger, Chief Executive Officer of the Women's
Wholesale Sportswear division.
Ms. Kulkarni has led a distinguished 20-year sales career in the retail
industry. Since 2000, she held various executive positions in sales and
marketing at Liz Claiborne, Inc., most recently serving as Chief Customer
Officer for Partnered Brands Division. Prior to joining Liz Claiborne, Ms.
Kulkarni held various sales roles at Warnaco from 1992 until 2000 and at
Maidenform, Inc. from 1989 until 1992.
"We are very excited to welcome Aru to Jones. Aru is a proven sales
executive with a keen strategic eye and an excellent reputation in the retail
industry," said Susan Metzger, Chief Executive Officer of the Women's
Wholesale Sportswear division. "Aru's appointment brings yet another strong
industry talent to Jones as we enhance the appeal of our core brands and grow
their market share. We continue to evolve the Better Sportswear collections
to focus on a more modern approach to styling and assortments and are very
pleased with the positive reception our current product offerings have been
receiving. I am confident that with Aru on the team, we will further enhance
our existing customer relationships and build new ones."
With this appointment, each Vice President of Sales of the Women's
Wholesale Sportswear division will report to Ms. Kulkarni.
About Jones Apparel Group, Inc.
Jones Apparel Group, Inc. (http://www.jny.com) is a leading designer,
marketer and wholesaler of branded apparel, footwear and accessories. The
Company also markets directly to consumers through its chain of specialty
retail and value-based stores. The Company's nationally recognized brands
include Jones New York, Nine West, Anne Klein, Gloria Vanderbilt, Kasper,
Bandolino, Easy Spirit, Evan-Picone, L.e.i., Energie, Enzo Angiolini, Joan &
David, Mootsies Tootsies, Sam & Libby, Napier, Judith Jack, Albert Nipon and
Le Suit. The Company also markets costume jewelry under the Givenchy brand
licensed from Givenchy Corporation and footwear under the Dockers Women brand
licensed from Levi Strauss & Co. Each brand is differentiated by its own
distinctive styling, pricing strategy, distribution channel and target
consumer. The Company contracts for the manufacture of its products through a
worldwide network of quality manufacturers. The Company has capitalized on its
nationally known brand names by entering into various licenses for several of
its trademarks, including Jones New York, Evan-Picone, Anne Klein New York,
Nine West, Gloria Vanderbilt and L.e.i., with select manufacturers of women's
and men's products which the Company does not manufacture. For more than 30
years, the Company has built a reputation for excellence in product quality
and value, and in operational execution.
SOURCE Jones Apparel Group, Inc.

Susan Metzger of Jones Apparel Group, Inc., +1-212-642-3876; or Joele Frank
and Sharon Stern of Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, +1-212-355-4449,
for Jones Apparel Group