NEWARK, Calif., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) announced today that K. Gunnar Bjorklund, age 43, has been elected to its Board of Directors.

Mr. Bjorklund is a co-founder and Managing Director of Sverica International, a private equity venture firm with offices in San Francisco, Boston and Montreal. Mr. Bjorklund has been an advisor to executives of several U.S. corporations and a large European telecommunications company on strategic development, management issues and operations projects. He began his consulting career with McKinsey & Company and also served as Director, Strategic Planning for American Express Company. As a Fulbright Scholar, he received an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

In commenting on this news, Michael Balmuth, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ross Stores, stated, "We are delighted to have Gunnar Bjorklund join our Board of Directors. We believe that his extensive business knowledge and in-depth experience, especially in strategic development, will make him a valuable resource for the company and its stockholders."

Ross Stores, Inc. operates a national chain of 507 off-price retail 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, +1-510-505-4400, or Katie Loughnot, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-510-505-4509, or katie.loughnot@ros.com, both of Ross Stores, Inc./