Mary Elizabeth Burton Joins Rent-A-Center Board

May 31, 2002 at 5:39 PM EDT
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PLANO, Texas, May 31, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCII) (the "Company") announced today that Mary Elizabeth ("Betsy") Burton has been appointed to its Board of Directors. Ms. Burton is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BB Capital, Inc., a private investment and consulting firm, which she owns. During her twenty-five year career, Ms. Burton has served as the Chief Executive Officer of Supercuts Inc., PIP Printing Inc. and Cosmetic Center Inc., as well as serving in various other senior executive level capacities in the retailing industry. She currently also serves on the Board of Directors of Staples, Inc., The Sports Authority, Inc. and Aeropostale, Inc. Ms. Burton earned her Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Chicago and her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of William and Mary.

"Betsy Burton is an outstanding addition to our Board of Directors," stated Mark E. Speese, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "Her breadth and depth of knowledge in retailing and consumer services is extensive, and her perspective should prove to be invaluable to the Company," Speese said.

"I couldn't be more excited to be joining the Board of Directors of Rent-A-Center," said Ms. Burton. "The Rent-A-Center management team has established the premier name in the Company's market niche. I am pleased to become part of an organization experiencing such clear, positive momentum under the leadership of Mark Speese," she concluded.

In addition to joining the Board of Directors, the Company reported that Ms. Burton has become a member of the Board's Audit Committee.

Rent-A-Center, headquartered in Plano, Texas, currently operates 2306 company-owned rent-to-own stores in 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The stores offer high-quality, durable goods such as home electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture and accessories to consumers under flexible rental purchase agreements that allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period. ColorTyme, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchisor of 329 rent-to-own stores, 317 of which operate under the trade name of "ColorTyme," and the remaining 12 of which operate under the "Rent-A-Center" name. 

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SOURCE Rent-A-Center, Inc. 

CONTACT:          Mark Speese, Chairman & CEO, +1-972-801-1199, or
                  mspeese@racenter.com , or Robert D. Davis, Chief Financial Officer,
                  +1-972-801-1204, or rdavis@racenter.com , both of Rent-A-Center, Inc.

URL:              http://www.rentacenter.com 
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