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TRENDS CHARITABLE FUND CELEBRITY LUNCHEON Karen Katz is President and Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Stores and Executive Vice President, The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. The Neiman Marcus Group is the premier retailer of luxury and designer merchandise in the United States. Since its founding in 1907, the company has been known for its commitment to merchandising excellence and customer service.
Annual sales for The Neiman Marcus Group specialty stores segment were $3.6 billion in Fiscal 2009.
Ms. Katz oversees the strategic direction, merchandising, operations, creative services and expansion of the Neiman Marcus Stores, and leads strategy development and enterprise marketing for the corporation.
Neiman Marcus operates 41 Neiman Marcus stores in the most affluent markets in the United States, as well as 28 Last Call and Horchow Finale Stores. CUSP, the Company’s new retail concept targeting a younger, contemporary customer premiered in 2006, and operates 6 stores in major markets.
Ms. Katz joined the company in 1985 as a Merchandise Manager of Neiman Marcus, Town & Country in Houston, Texas. In 1987, she became Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager for Handbags and Designer Accessories. Ms. Katz returned to the stores in 1991 as the Vice President and General Manager of Neiman Marcus, NorthPark. In 1996, she became Senior Vice President, Director of Stores and in 1998 was elevated to Executive Vice President of Stores. In 2000, Ms. Katz was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer, Neiman Marcus Direct, the company’s catalogue and e-commerce direct marketing business, including the Neiman Marcus and Horchow brands. She assumed her present position in December 2002, and was elevated to Executive Vice President, Office of the Chairman, The Neiman Marcus Group in 2007 with oversight of the company’s strategy, business development and marketing.
Prior to her affiliation with The Neiman Marcus Group, she was employed by Foley’s Department Store as a buyer, department manager and an assistant buyer.
Ms. Katz was educated at the University of Texas and received a master of business administration from the University of Houston. She has attended Executive Education Programs, with special emphasis in customer service, at Harvard University, Graduate School of Business.
Ms. Katz maintains a strong commitment to charity and community service in her native city of Dallas, Texas. Currently, she serves of the board of Fort Worth, Texas based Pier One Imports, UT Southwestern Board of Visitors, the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, and the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee. Additional board positions have included the Dallas Theater Center, Bryan’s House, Charter 100, the Jewish Community Center of Dallas, St. Mark’s School of Texas, Southern Methodist University (SMU) Cox School of Business and the SMU -Tate Lecture Series.
Ms. Katz and her husband, Alan, reside in Dallas and have a son, Alex who is a sophomore at Stanford University. |
