Dashe Steps Down at Cost Plus, Plans to Retire

Gurr Named Interim President, COO During Transition

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/14/2005 12:00:00 AM

Oakland, Calif. — —

Oakland, Calif. — Murray Dashe has stepped down as chairman, CEO and president of Cost Plus, Inc., with plans to retire.

Danny Gurr, a director of the company since 1995, has been named president and COO on an interim basis to assist in the transition. Additionally, Fredric Roberts, a director since 1999, has been named non-executive chairman of the board.

Gurr has a wide variety of retail and business experience, stated Cost Plus. He currently serves as a retail and publishing consultant and is a director of Make Believe Ideas Ltd. Previously, he served as president of Quarto Holdings, Inc., an international co-edition publisher.

Roberts heads his own investment banking firm, F.M. Roberts & Company, and has over 30 years of investment banking experience. He served as the 1993 chairman of the board of governors of the National Association of Securities Dealers, which at that time owned and operated The Nasdaq Stock Market.

The company's board of directors stated that it will begin a search for a new CEO immediately.