NEW YORK, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL) announced that Judith A. McHale has joined the Company's Board of Directors. Ms. McHale's election brings the number of Directors on the Company's Board to nine.

"I am delighted that Judith has joined our Board of Directors. Her expertise in the areas of global branding and international media will be a tremendous asset to our Company. She will add an important new voice to our Board," said Ralph Lauren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Polo Ralph Lauren.

Ms. McHale is President and Chief Operating Officer of Discovery Communications, Inc., a leading global real world media and entertainment company. Ms. McHale is responsible for the overall strategic direction, business development and operations of all DCI resources and properties in the United States and around the world. Ms. McHale was named President in 1995, and under her leadership the Company has grown from its core property, the Discovery Channel, to 33 networks of distinctive programming. DCI's entertainment brands include TLC, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, Discovery Health Channel, Discovery Kids and a family of digital channels. The Company operates in 152 countries with 180 million subscribers.

Ms. McHale has been the recipient of numerous media industry awards including the National Cable Television Association's Leadership Award and was listed as one of Cable's Most Powerful Women by Cablevision Magazine. In 1999, Ms. McHale received the Congressional Leadership Award for her work on behalf of the nation's children. Since 1997 she has served as a member of the Maryland State Board of Education. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of Cable in the Classroom and Co-Chair of the National Campaign Against Youth Violence. Ms. McHale also serves on the Boards of the Children's National Medical Center Campaign Trustees Group, the Honorary Advisory Council of the Children's Inn at National Institute of Health and the National Summit on Africa.

Prior to joining Discovery Communications in 1987, Ms. McHale served as General Councel for MTV Networks. She began her career as an attorney with the New York firm of Battle, Fowler. Ms. McHale is also on the Board of Directors of the John Hancock Company and the Potomac Electric Power Company.

Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is a leader in the design, marketing and distribution of premium lifestyle products in four categories: apparel, home, accessories and fragrances. For more than 30 years, Polo's reputation and distinctive image have been consistently developed across an expanding number of products, brands and international markets. The Company's brand names, which include, "Polo by Ralph Lauren", "Polo Sport Ralph Lauren", "Ralph Lauren Collection", "Ralph Lauren Purple Label", "RALPH by Ralph Lauren", "Lauren by Ralph Lauren", "Polo Jeans Co. Ralph Lauren", and "Chaps Ralph Lauren", among others, constitute one of the world's most widely recognized families of consumer brands. In April 1999, Polo Ralph Lauren acquired Club Monaco, a vertical lifestyle retailer based in Toronto. In February 2000, Ralph Lauren Media LLC was formed as a joint venture between Polo Ralph Lauren, NBC and two of NBC's affiliated companies -- ValueVision International, Inc. and NBC Internet, Inc. -- to bring the Polo Ralph Lauren American lifestyle experience to consumers via multiple media platforms, including the Internet, broadcast, cable and print. SOURCE Polo Ralph Lauren

CONTACT: Ellen Maguire, Public Relations of Polo Ralph Lauren,