FOOTHILL RANCH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Wet Seal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTSL), a leading specialty retailer to young women, announced today that Jon Kubo has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, a newly created position. Joining the Company on October 6, 2014, Mr. Kubo will oversee e-commerce, digital marketing and the information technology organization to integrate digital consumer experiences across all business touch points.
Mr. Kubo returns to Wet Seal after having had a successful tenure with the Company from 2005 through 2011 as head of e-commerce and Chief Information Officer. During his tenure, the Company’s Wet Seal e-commerce business grew to its highest sales volume in the Company’s history through innovative and industry-leading social and mobile customer engagement programs. Mr. Kubo also led the Company’s information technology organization and earned numerous industry awards from Oracle Retail, RIS, Etail Mobile Commerce and Information Week. Most recently, Mr. Kubo was head of product strategy at Fluid, Inc., a web development firm, and was previously Chief Product Officer at 8th Bridge, Inc., a social commerce startup, until it was acquired by Fluid in April 2014. Prior to joining Wet Seal in 2005, Mr. Kubo was Chief Administrative Officer for FAO Schwarz and Chief Information Officer for FAO, Inc. and also held several executive positions in the software technology industry.
Mr. Kubo earned a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s degree in engineering from California State University at Fullerton and an MBA from the Peter Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University.
Ed Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “I am excited to bring Jon back to lead our critically important e-commerce business, along with digital marketing and information technology. Jon’s tremendous vision and innovative leadership during his prior Wet Seal tenure resulted in the most successful e-commerce performance in the Company’s history. We are confident that Jon’s expertise will return us to the forefront as an e-commerce leader within the teen retail space.”
About The Wet Seal, Inc.
The Wet Seal, Inc., a pioneer in fast fashion retailing, sells apparel, footwear and accessories designed for teen girls and young women through retail stores nationwide, as well as two e-commerce websites. As of August 2, 2014, the Company operated 531 stores in 47 states and Puerto Rico, www.wetseal.com and www.ardenb.com. For additional corporate information, please visit www.wetsealinc.com.
Safe Harbor
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the intent, belief, plans or expectations of the Company or its management. All forward-looking statements made by the Company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on factors 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. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company will not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.
