Chico's FAS, Inc. Recognized for Advancing Gender Diversity in the Boardroom

One of 32 Companies Honored by Women Executive Leadership Florida at 2017 Corporate Salute Elevate Awards

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Oct 18, 2017, 08:00 ET

FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) today announced that it will receive the Women Executive Leadership Florida's (WEL Florida) 2017 Corporate Salute Elevate Award for the Company's advancement of gender diversity in its boardroom and C-Suite. Based on the 2017 WEL Census of top companies headquartered in Florida, the Elevate Award honors leaders who celebrate and reaffirm the financial and social benefits of gender diversity in corporate leadership.

WEL Florida is a non-profit organization that advocates, educates and connects accomplished women executives and periodically prepares a census of top public companies headquartered in Florida. Known as the WEL Census, the study reviews the most recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including annual reports and proxy statements, to evaluate the number of women on boards and in executive positions. Based on those results, companies like Chico's FAS are honored with the Elevate Award for making significant contributions to promote, recommend and mentor women, and for their advancement of women to corporate boards and C-Suite leadership roles.

Shelley Broader, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are honored to be among our fellow Corporate Salute Elevate Award recipients for advancing diversity in the boardroom. Chico's FAS is a business that serves women, and we recognize the importance of ensuring that women play critical leadership roles at the Board and executive levels. We are proud to have a female majority on our Board and to have 80% female representation within our Executive Team."

The WEL Florida 2017 Corporate Salute event will be held at the T Pepin Hospitality Center in Tampa on October 18, 2017. Chico's FAS is among 32 companies being honored, which also include:

Tech Data Corporation
AutoNation, Inc.
Jabil, Inc.
Carnival Corporation
NextEra Energy, Inc.
CSX Corporation
Office Depot
Lennar Corporation
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
HSN, Inc.
MEDNAX, Inc.
Dycom Industries, Inc.
Tupperware Brands Corporation
Sykes Enterprises, Incorporated
ILG, Inc.
SeaWorld Entertainment, Inc.
Kforce Inc.
BankUnited, Inc.
Ruth's Hospitality Group, Inc.
Fidelity National Financial, Inc.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
Roper Technologies, Inc.
Spirit Airlines, Inc.
SBA Communications Corporation
FirstService Corporation
HEICO Corporation
Intertape Polymer Group Inc.
Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc.
National Retail Properties, Inc.
PGT Industries
Bankrate, Inc.

The event will feature keynote speaker Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware Brands, and will be emceed by Cynthia Smoot, News Anchor, FOX 13 News. The event will also honor Evelyn Follit, Founder and President of Follit Associates, with the 2017 Trailblazer Award for making significant professional and personal contributions to promote, recommend and mentor women.

For more information on Corporate Salute, visit http://welflorida.org/events/wel-corporate-salute-tampa-save-date-septemberoctober/

ABOUT CHICO'S FAS, INC.

The Company, through its brands – Chico's, White House Black Market, and Soma, is a leading omni-channel specialty retailer of women's private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates and complementary accessories.

As of July 29, 2017, the Company operated 1,482 stores in the US and Canada and sold merchandise through franchise locations in Mexico. The Company's merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.whbm.com, and www.soma.com. For more detailed information on Chico's FAS, Inc., please visit our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com.

ABOUT WEL FLORIDA

Women Executive Leadership, Inc. advocates, educates and connects accomplished women. WEL Florida is a not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to increase the number of women serving on corporate boards and in the executive suite through advocating, educating and connecting accomplished leaders. WEL Florida's membership is reflective of executive women across diverse businesses in Florida. For more information, visit www.welflorida.org.

SOURCE Chico's FAS, Inc.