Gibson Guitar Appoints Michael L. Allen as Chief People Officer

Veteran industry executive Michael Allen has joined Gibson Guitar Corp. as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer it was announced today by Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman & CEO. Allen will oversee all human resource management, training, loss prevention, security and safety for the company.

As part of Gibsonís current expansion plan, Allen is part an overall senior management structuring being implemented to oversee all marketing, sales, brand development, administration and entertainment.

ìMichael Allen brings a superior track record and experience which is unmatched anywhere in the industry,î said Juszkiewicz. ìHis background in human resources and management is exactly what we were looking for in a Chief People Officer and we are thrilled to have him on board.î

Allen comes to Gibson Guitar Corp. from Yorkshire Global Restaurants where he served as Senior Vice President Human Resources and Chief Administration Officer. Yorkshire Global Restaurants includes the brands A&W and Long John Silvers. It was here that he was responsible for all domestic and international human resources and introduced new technology in recruitment. Allen also trained and staffed over 70 company locations in one year in his position with Yorkshire. Being the innovator that he is, Allen decided to brand Yorkshire as the ìThe Employer of Choiceî giving the global restaurant company a leadership role amongst their competitors.

Prior to Yorkshire Allen served in several roles with leading national companies. He was Chief Administration Officer and General Counsel for Crown Book Corporation in Landover, Maryland responsible for all legal, human resources, payroll, risk management and loss prevention. Prior to that he was Director of Human Resources for Hechinger/Home Quarters/Builders Square also in Landover, Maryland. In his role as the senior human resources executive he was responsible for health and welfare, total compensation, human resources and information services for an employee base of over 35, 000 and 250 locations.

Mr. Allenís experience continues with time spent as a Management Consultant for such world famous brands as The Limited, Victoriaís Secret Catalog, Southern Air Transport, Chemical Bank and Cable Link. He also held several executive level human resource roles with the Kobacker Company in Columbus, Ohio, Consolidated Stores International also in Columbus, Ohio and Horn & Hardart Company with offices in New York and Charlotte.

Allen is the recipient of the prestigious 2002 Elliot Group Human Resources Motivator of the Year Award and has served on the Board of Directors of the Mid Atlantic Healthcare Purchasing Coalition. He will be based at Gibson Guitar Corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Gibson is known worldwide for producing classic models in every major style of fretted instrument, including acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins and banjos. Gibsonís digital guitar, introduced in 2002, represents the biggest advance in electric guitar design in over 70 years. Founded in 1894 in Kalamazoo, MI, and headquartered in Nashville since 1984, Gibson Guitar Corp.ís family of brands now includes Epiphone, Dobro, Valley Arts, Kramer, Steinberger, Tobias, Slingerland, Trace Elliot, Maestro, Baldwin, Ellington, Chickering and Wurlitzer. Visit Gibsonís website at