Exhibit 99.1
PARTY CITY APPOINTS TWO NEW INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS TO BOARD
New Board Members Bring Significant Digital, Capital Markets, and Finance Expertise to Further Advance Company’s Strategy to Build a Leading Marketplace for Party Products and Services
ELMSFORD, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2020 — Party City Holdco Inc. (the “Company” or “PRTY”; NYSE:PRTY) today announced that two new independent directors, Jennifer Fleiss, Co-Founder of Rent the Runway, and Joel Alsfine, former Partner at MSD Capital, L.P., will join the Company’s Board of Directors, effective September 13, 2020. In addition, the Company announced that Morry Weiss has decided to retire from the Board at that time.
Ms. Fleiss brings to Party City significant digital expertise and a proven record of building unique marketplace platforms that disrupt the traditional shopping experience and enable leading retail businesses. In addition to co-founding Rent the Runway, Ms. Fleiss most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Jetblack, a concierge shopping service previously offered by Walmart as part of its tech incubator.
Mr. Alsfine has extensive capital markets and investment experience as a Senior Advisor and former Partner at MSD Capital. He also brings to Party City substantial financial and risk management related experience from his previous work at private equity and consulting firms.
“We are delighted to add two highly qualified directors who each bring skills and experience that will advance our vision of becoming the leading marketplace for celebration services and products,” said Norman Matthews, Chairman of the Party City Board. “Over the past year, we have successfully reset our capital structure, shifted our operations to serve customers in a new retail environment and brought on exceptional talent throughout the organization, including on our executive leadership team. Jennifer’s and Joel’s decision to join our Board is a testament to the transformation underway and the exciting opportunities the Company is creating in serving our customers. We look forward to Jennifer’s and Joel’s contributions as part of these efforts.”
Mr. Matthews continued, “We thank Morry for his service and dedication to Party City during his five-year tenure as a director, including his most recent support as we rapidly adapted our business model in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wish him the best in his retirement.”
With the changes announced today, the Party City Board will be comprised of 11 directors, including nine independent directors as well as the Company’s Vice Chairman James Harrison and President and Chief Executive Officer Brad Weston. Party City noted that Mr. Alsfine was mutually selected in partnership with certain of its bondholders and third party investors under a Board Nomination Agreement dated September 11, 2020, in connection with the Company’s 2020 refinancing transactions.
About Jennifer Fleiss
Jennifer Fleiss most recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Jetblack, a subdivision of Walmart, and prior as Co-Founder, President and Director of Rent the Runway. During her nine years at Rent the Runway, Ms. Fleiss served in a variety of leadership roles in operations, strategy and business development. Ms. Fleiss currently serves on the Board of Directors of Rent the Runway and Shutterfly, Inc. Previously, Ms. Fleiss worked at Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.