John D. Howard has served as a director since 2002. He is currently a Senior Managing Director of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and is the Chief Executive Officer of Bear Stearns Merchant Banking, LLC, an affiliate of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and of the controlling shareholder of New York & Company. Mr. Howard has been the head of the merchant banking department of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. since its inception in 1997. From 1990 to 1997, he was a co-CEO of Vestar Capital Partners, Inc., a private investment firm specializing in management buyouts. Previously, he was a Senior Vice President of Wesray Capital Corporation, a private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts. Mr. Howard also currently serves as a director of A�ropostale, Inc., Integrated Device Technology, Inc., Vitamin Shoppe Industries Inc. and several other private companies. |