NEWARK, Calif., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) announced today that Mark S. Askanas, 40, has been named General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Mr. Askanas will report directly to Jim Peters, the company's President and Chief Operating Officer. He succeeds Ivy Council in the Senior Vice President, Human Resources position. Ms. Council resigned in November 2000 to pursue other interests.

Most recently, Mr. Askanas served as a partner in the San Francisco office of Jackson, Lewis Schnitzler & Kurpman, a national law firm specializing in employment and labor law, employee benefits and related litigation. Mr. Askansas graduated from the University of California at Davis School of Law in 1985, where he was Senior Research Editor of the U.C. Davis Law Review. He joined Jackson Lewis in 1988 and became a partner in the firm in 1993.

Mr. Peters said, "We are delighted to have Mark Askanas join the Ross senior management team. His in-depth knowledge of employment and labor law as well as employee benefits will be a valuable resource in managing both the human resource and legal areas of the company."

Ross Stores, Inc. generated $2.5 billion in sales during fiscal 1999. The retailer currently operates a chain of 411 off-price stores offering first quality, in-season, branded apparel and apparel-related merchandise for the entire family at prices that average 20% to 60% less than department and specialty stores, as well as merchandise for the home at similar savings. SOURCE Ross Stores, Inc.

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CONTACT: John G. Call, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, 510-505-4315, or Katie Loughnot, Director, Investor Relations, 510-505-4509, or katie.loughnot@ros.com, both of Ross Stores, Inc./