SEATTLE, Wash. - November 15, 2001 - Nordstrom, Inc. (NYSE: JWN) announced today it named two new presidents to its executive team to succeed retiring long-term senior executives Gail Cottle, president of Nordstrom Product Group and Susan Tabor, president, Nordstrom Rack. Cottle will be succeeded by James O’Neal who was formerly general manager for Nordstrom’s east coast region. Tabor will be succeeded by Laurie Black who was formerly the corporate merchandise manager for women’s active sportswear, lingerie and hosiery. Cottle and Tabor, whose retirements are effective as of the end of November, will assist with the transition of leadership.

"Gail Cottle and Sue Tabor have made significant contributions to our company," said Blake Nordstrom, president, Nordstrom, Inc. "They have both shown incredible leadership over the years by achieving consistently strong results and by mentoring hundreds of employees within our company. They helped build this organization over the last thirty years and they’ll leave a lasting legacy to employees with whom they’ve worked."

Cottle, 50, began her career with the company in 1969 in shoes. She held various assignments over her 32-year career, including buyer, corporate merchandise manager and president of Nordstrom Product Group. Cottle took on the assignment of creating and running the company’s private label division in 1992 and has supported the growth of that division into a more than $1 billion enterprise.

Tabor, 56, began her career with Nordstrom in 1967 in the junior department. In her 34-year career she held various assignments including buyer, store manager, corporate merchandise manager, regional manager, general manager and president of Nordstrom Rack. Under Tabor’s leadership, the Rack division more than doubled its volume in seven years and more than 2,500 people have been promoted from Rack stores to full line stores and other divisions.

O’Neal, 43, began his career with Nordstrom in 1980 in Men’s Shoes. He has held the assignments of buyer, merchandise manager, store manager, regional manager and general manager. Black, 42, started her career with the company in 1978 in Hosiery. Her various assignments have included buyer, store manager and corporate merchandise manager.

Celebrating 100 years of service, Nordstrom, Inc. is one the nation’s leading fashion specialty retailers, with 132 US store located in 25 states. Founded in 1901 as a shoe store in Seattle, today Nordstrom operate 80 full-line stores, 45 Nordstrom Racks, four Faconnable boutiques, two free-standing shoe stores and one clearance store. Nordstrom also operates 22 international Faconnable boutiques, primarily in Europe. Additionally, Nordstrom serves customers through its online presence at http://www.nordstrom.com and through its direct mail catalogs.