2009-03-27 13:31:02 -

Staples, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPLS) today announced the appointment of Rob Vale as president of Staples Europe. In this new position for the company, Vale will report to Peter Ventress, president of Staples International.

“Rob has tremendous experience in the office products industry and in leading European businesses,” said Ventress. “His proven leadership and management skills will drive the growth of Staples

Europe as we work to be the world’s best office products company.”


Vale will lead Staples’ new regional management structure in Europe in the Benelux, Central Europe, the Nordics, Southern Europe and UK/Ireland. Through this regional structure, Staples provides great customer service across sales channels to contract, catalog and retail customers. Vale will also lead the company’s recently launched “one brand” strategy in Europe, with the goal of transitioning to one Staples brand over time.

Vale joins Staples with nearly 20 years of experience in the European office products industry. He previously served as chief executive officer of Spicers, Ltd., an office products wholesale distributor.

Prior to Spicers, he was senior vice president of European operations at Office Depot, and previously served as managing director for European subsidiaries at Lyreco SA. Vale brings years of international management experience, having lived and worked in the UK, Belgium, France and the Netherlands throughout his career.



About Staples

Staples, the world’s largest office products company, is committed to making it easy for customers to buy a wide range of office products, including supplies, technology, furniture, and business services. With 2008 sales of $23 billion and 91,000 associates worldwide, Staples serves businesses of all sizes and consumers in 27 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. In July 2008, Staples acquired Corporate Express, one of the world’s leading suppliers of office products to businesses and institutions. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and is headquartered outside Boston.

More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com : .



Staples, Inc.Paul Capelli/Owen Davis, 508-253-8530/8468