MIAMI – January 16, 2007- Perry Ellis International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PERY) announced today the hiring of Jeff Knapp to the position of vice president of sales for the company’s PING® Collection Green Grass division. Knapp will report to Michael Gann, senior vice president of sales for the Corporate and Green Grass Divisions.
"Jeff’s enthusiasm and passion for golf will be an asset for PING® Collection," says Gann. "The relationships he has built, combined with his knowledge of the green grass business will help leverage one of the strongest brands in the world of golf – PING®."
Knapp is very well known in the golf community. He brings 20 years of sales experience to Perry Ellis International and has had a focus on golf in general (and green grass specifically) for the last nine (9) years. He has built strong relationships with top golf management groups and some of the most well-recognized courses in the country during this time.
"What a hire for the PING® Collection! Jeff Knapp is the consummate professional and possesses everything you look for in a sales executive — easy-going personality, extensive industry background and the ability to relate to any situation," says Pete Hymes, Director of Retail Operations for the Legends Group & Barefoot Resort and Golf. "I always felt that Jeff had gone the extra mile to make The Legends Group successful and for that he earned my respect and friendship."
Knapp will be based in a new office for PING® Collection to be located in Kansas City, Missouri.
About Perry Ellis International
Perry Ellis International, Inc. is a leading designer, distributor and licensor of a broad line of high quality men’s and women’s apparel, accessories, and fragrances, including dress and casual shirts, golf sportswear, sweaters, dress and casual pants and shorts, jeans wear, active wear and men’s and women’s swimwear to all major levels of retail distribution. The company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a portfolio of highly recognized brands including Perry Ellis(R), Jantzen(R), Cubavera(R), Munsingwear(R), Savane(R), Original Penguin(R), Grand Slam(R), Natural Issue(R), Pro Player(R), the Havanera Co.(R), Axis(R), Tricots St. Raphael(R), Gotcha(R), Girl Star(R) and MCD(R). The company also licenses trademarks from third parties including Nike(R) for swimwear, and PING(R) and PGA TOUR(R) for golf apparel. Additional information on the company is available at http://www.pery.com.
Contact:
William Mecklenburg
Perry Ellis International
(305) 592-2830
WILLIAM.MECKLENBURG@PERY.COM
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