Claire's names CEO

Jewellery and accessories retail chain, Claire’s Stores, Inc., has announced that

the Board of Directors has appointed James D. Fielding as Chief Executive Officer. The search for a new CEO has been on-going since the retailer’s management changes at the beginning of the year, and Fielding will assume the CEO position on June 18, and he will also join the Company's Board of Directors.

Fielding joins Claire's from The Walt Disney Company, where he was most recently President of Disney Stores Worldwide, a role where he was responsible for all global operations of the 360 Disney Stores in twelve countries as well as the DisneyStore.com business in five countries.

Peter P. Copses, Chairman of the Board of Directors, commented: "After conducting an extensive search and considering many capable candidates, we are pleased to appoint Jim Fielding the CEO of Claire's. Jim is a proven retail executive with 25 years of experience who possesses a compelling combination of leadership skills and merchandising acumen.

“Jim joins a talented and experienced senior management team at Claire's today who have helped to build a successful foundation on which the Company is well positioned to grow. We are confident in Jim's ability to lead this team and to capitalize on the many growth opportunities available to Claire's today."

Claire's Stores, Inc. operates over 3,000 stores in North America and Europe. The retailer also has nearly 400 franchised or licensed stores in Japan, the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, Greece, Guatemala, Malta, Ukraine and Mexico.