Eastern Mountain Sports Promotes Company Veteran Ted Manning

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. (January 14, 2008) – Reinforcing its commitment to reestablish its New England roots and to become the community outdoor retailer of choice, Eastern Mountain Sports announces the promotion of Ted Manning to vice president, general merchandise manager. Manning, an Eastern Mountain Sports veteran of nearly 20 years, will work closely with gear and apparel merchandise teams to oversee the buying strategy and product development for gear and apparel.

In his new position, Manning will work closely with CEO and President Will Manzer overseeing all facets of merchandising. Touching all areas of the outdoor retailer’s business, Manning will collaborate with the internal hard goods and soft goods merchant teams to bring increased focus and definition to each season’s goals, as well as to continue to build key relationships with Eastern Mountain Sports’ national brand partners.

“Ted has played an integral role in growing the equipment side of our business and is a critical additional to our senior management team,” said Manzer. “He has proven expertise that will be an asset across the board. Ted knows this business inside and out, and his leadership will help positively shape the direction and attitude of the Eastern Mountain Sports brand.”

Manning started with Eastern Mountain Sports in 1989 as his first job in high school in upstate N.Y. He worked his way up through the management levels in the Peterborough, N.H., Portsmouth, N.H., and Chicago, Ill., stores and became an assistant buyer at Eastern Mountain Sports’ headquarters in Peterborough in 2000. From there, Manning served as assistant product manager of tech sports, product manager of camping and merchandising director of equipment.

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“I am looking forward to broadening my role at Eastern Mountain Sports and continuing to be a part of the company’s success,” said Manning. “I am very passionate about improving the outdoor experience for all of our customers and staff and growing the brand as the choice for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels.”

Manning currently resides in Peterborough, N.H., with his wife and two sons, ages two and four. In his spare time, Manning enjoys spending time with his family in the outdoors, mountain biking, telemark skiing and his favorite activity – fly fishing in the Adirondacks.

About Eastern Mountain Sports:
Founded in 1967 by two New England rock climbers and based in Peterborough, N.H., Eastern Mountain Sports is one of the nation’s leading outfitters of outdoor gear, clothing, footwear and accessories with 68 retail stores in 12 states. Eastern Mountain Sports designs and sells products for outdoor adventurers who participate in a variety of sports, such as mountaineering, backpacking, camping, hiking, adventure racing, climbing, kayaking, mountain biking and snow sports. Eastern Mountain Sports product and technology is tested by its product development and quality assurance teams in conjunction with the Eastern Mountain Sports Climbing, Kayaking and Ski Schools. More information is available at www.ems.com.

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