Russell Corporation Announces Retirement of Barea

ATLANTA, April 13  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Russell Corporation (NYSE:RML) announced today that Julio A. Barea, 58, senior vice president and president/chief executive officer of the Activewear division, will retire effective May 15, 2006.  According to Jack Ward, chairman and CEO of Russell Corporation, "When Julio first joined us in 2003, he indicated that he wanted to work for about three years and then move on to other things in his life. We understood that when he came to Russell and appreciate the contributions he has made to the Company."

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The announcement included a new organizational structure that will create increased emphasis on the market and sales areas within Activewear, providing more effective response to market opportunities and more efficient utilization of resources.  Tony Iannuzzi, who has been in Russell's artwear business for 17 years, has been promoted to general manager of Artwear/Careerwear and Al Lopez, who joined Activewear as vice president of Activewear's mass retail channel in 2004, has been promoted to general manager for the mass retail business to include the JERZEES brand, Mossy Oak and Activewear's operations in Mexico.  Both Iannuzzi and Lopez will report directly to Ward.

Additionally, Dean Riggs will be rejoining Russell on April 18 as corporate vice president of operations, reporting to Ward.  Riggs originally joined Russell in 1998 as vice president of operations for Activewear and was named corporate vice president of operations in 2001.  He later joined Springs industries as executive vice president of operations and was with them until the end of 2005.

About Russell Corporation

Russell Corporation is a leading branded athletic and sporting goods company marketing athletic apparel, uniforms, footwear and equipment for a wide variety of sports, outdoor and fitness activities.  The Company's major brands include Russell Athletic(R), JERZEES(R), Spalding(R), Brooks(R), Huffy Sports(R), Bike(R), Moving Comfort(R), AAI(R) and Mossy Oak(R). The Company's common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol RML and its web site address is http://www.russellcorp.com/. 

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DATASOURCE: Russell Corporation



CONTACT:  Financial, Roger Holliday, [phone], or Media, Nancy

Young, [phone], both of Russell Corporation



Web site:  http://www.russellcorp.com/ 

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