Michael Geraghty Named Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Fortunoff

Furniture World Magazine

Fortunoff announced the appointment of Michael Geraghty to be its new Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. Fortunoff, the retailer of fine jewelry and home furnishings in the New York metropolitan area, was acquired by Trimaran Capital Partners and Kier Group in July 2005, in partnership with the founding Fortunoff and Mayrock families. Mr. Geraghty most recently was Chairman of Filene's/Kaufman's, a division of The May Department Stores Company prior to May's acquisition by Federated Department Stores, Inc. Prior to serving as Chairman of Filene's/Kaufman's, Mr. Geraghty served as Chief Financial Officer of that organization and held various other senior positions within the May organization, Marshall's and Abraham and Strauss. "Michael Geraghty will be an extremely valuable addition to the Fortunoff team," said Arnie Orlick, CEO of Fortunoff. "He has had tremendous success overseeing the operations and finance functions of a major retailer and Fortunoff will certainly benefit from his expertise in a variety of areas. I am excited to have Michael as a partner and feel that, together, we can build on Fortunoff's 80-year heritage of providing customers with great merchandise at great values, while providing a high degree of customer service." "I am extremely excited to join the Fortunoff team and help build upon the Company's many years of success," said Mr. Geraghty. "For years, Fortunoff has been the leading retailer of home furnishings and jewelry in the tri-state region, offering its customers luxurious merchandise and personalized customer service at affordable prices. I believe there is tremendous potential to expand upon that foundation, and I look forward to working closely with Arnie Orlick and the many exceptional people who have built Fortunoff into a unique retailer." About Fortunoff: Fortunoff (www.fortunoff.com), founded in 1922, is the lifestyle home products and jewelry brand of choice to the retail consumer and the standard by which brides measure their wedding registry experience. For more than 80 years the store has been legendary for its unique blend of quality, selection, value and service. From the engagement, through the wedding, to all gift giving occasions and into the creation of the home, Fortunoff is an integral part of its customers' daily lives. Fortunoff operates full-line stores selling jewelry and home furnishings in Westbury, New York; White Plains, New York; Wayne, New Jersey; and Woodbridge, New Jersey; jewelry and giftware stores on Fifth Avenue and in Paramus, New Jersey; and Fortunoff Backyard/Furniture stores throughout the metropolitan area. About Trimaran Capital Partners: Trimaran Capital Partners (www.trimarancapital.com) is a leading middle market private equity investor headquartered in New York. Since 1995, the firm has invested over $1.2 billion of equity in more than fifty portfolio companies in transactions totaling in excess of $10 billion. The firm's previous investments include: El Pollo Loco, the nation's leading quick- service restaurant chain specializing in flame grilled chicken and other Mexican inspired entrees; Urban Brands, a specialty retailer that operates under the Ashley Stewart and Marianne's names; Educational Services of America, the nation's leading operator of K-12 special education schools; Reddy Ice, the nation's leading supplier of packaged ice to retailers such as Wal-Mart, and International Transmission Company, the first independent electric transmission company in the U.S. About Kier Group The Kier Group, based in New York, makes private equity investments in life-style and luxury-related consumer product and retail businesses. Since 1993, Kier Group's principals have completed more than $3 billion in transactions.