Borders Names Michael J. Edwards Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer

Borders Names Michael J. Edwards Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer

Anne Kubek, Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing, Departs

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP) has appointed 26-year retail veteran Michael J. Edwards Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer, effective Sept. 28. Edwards will report to Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall and be responsible for developing and executing merchandising and marketing strategies to drive sales and profit as Borders works to re-engage with customers as a bookseller for serious readers. Edwards, 49, will lead teams responsible for buying and merchandising, inventory allocation and control, supply chain, customer relationship management--including the 34-million member Borders Rewards loyalty program--marketing and e-commerce.

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With Edwards' appointment, Borders Group also announced the departure of Anne Kubek, 43, who joined Borders Group in 1990 and most recently served as Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Marketing.

"We look forward to Mike joining the company to focus with urgency on driving business results and delivering an outstanding experience for our customers," said Marshall. "He is a dynamic leader with extensive expertise in merchandising, marketing and operations, as well as a proven ability to reposition companies for success, which is critical for Borders."

"Building the Borders brand is an exciting opportunity," Edwards said. "I am anxious to bring innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit to the merchandising and marketing functions and believe that the path toward business results starts with a focus on the customer."

Most recently, Edwards served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ellington Leather, a Portland, OR-based leather handbags and accessories wholesaler with products sold through specialty stores including Clarks and Eddie Bauer as well as online merchants and national catalogs including Garnet Hill. From 2004 through 2007, Edwards was President and Chief Executive Officer for lucy Activewear, also headquartered in Portland. At lucy, he expanded the store base, created a new prototype store, re-launched the e-commerce site and strengthened the private label program, driving improved profits and returns. He ultimately led a successful acquisition of lucy by VF Corporation. Prior to lucy, Edwards was Executive Vice President, Operations for fabric and specialty craft retailer Jo-Ann Stores with over 750 stores. His career also includes senior executive leadership positions in merchandising and operations with boat accessory and supply retailer West Marine, Inc., and golf equipment retailer Golfsmith, as well as eight years with CompUSA, where he was a member of the executive team that grew the computer specialty retailer from seven stores to over 240 locations through an IPO in 1993. Edwards also held buying and merchandising posts with discount retailer Target Corporation and the May Department Store Company.

He earned a bachelor's degree in business and marketing in 1983 from Philadelphia's Drexel University and currently serves as a trustee of the International Council of Shopping Centers, as well as Chairman of the board of directors of Muttropolis, Solana Beach, CA.

About Borders Group

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with approximately 25,000 employees worldwide. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,000 stores primarily under the Borders and Waldenbooks brand names and offers online shopping through Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com/aboutus.

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Source: Borders Group

CONTACT: Anne Roman of Borders Group, +1-734-477-1392,
aroman@bordersgroupinc.com

Web Site: http://www.borders.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment