CLSTE Cellstar (MM)

CellStar Names New General Manager for North America Region CARROLLTON, Texas, May 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CellStar (NASDAQ:CLSTE), a value-added wireless logistics services leader, today announced that N. Ross Buckenham has accepted the position of General Manager, North America Region and will report directly to the Chairman and CEO of CellStar. "Ross is a seasoned executive with the background and experience to help us achieve our goal of adding high value-added services and products to our portfolio to complement our handset business," said Robert Kaiser, Chairman and CEO of CellStar. "He will develop and execute marketing and sales initiatives in the U.S. that will enable us to diversify our portfolio and move to products and services that generate higher margins." Mr. Buckenham's most recent position was President and CEO for Weblink Wireless, Inc. He joined Weblink Wireless in 1996 as an Executive Vice President and served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1998 to 2000. During his tenure at Weblink Wireless, Ross launched network alliances, strategic partnerships and national retail distribution pacts with Motorola, Southwestern Bell, GTE, WorldCom, Ameritech, Bell South, Verizon, Metrocall, Excel, Radio Shack, Best Buy, Circuit City, OfficeMax, Target, 7-Eleven, Buy.com and Yahoo. He also developed and implemented a new strategy which resulted in a significant improvement in operating results and cash flow. Prior to Weblink Wireless, Buckenham served as President and CEO for Touchstone Solutions, Inc. and as President and CEO of Advanced Oxygen System, Inc. He has a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Canterbury University in New Zealand and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business. About CellStar Corporation CellStar Corporation is a leading global provider of value-added logistics services to the wireless communications industry, with operations primarily in the Latin American, North American and Asia-Pacific regions. CellStar facilitates the effective and efficient distribution of handsets, related accessories and other wireless products from leading manufacturers to network operators, agents, resellers, dealers and retailers. CellStar also provides activation services in some of its markets that generate new subscribers for wireless carriers. Additional information about CellStar may be found on its Web site at http://www.cellstar.com/ . This news release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A variety of risk factors, including the Company's ability to implement its business strategies, to maintain its channels of distribution, continue to secure an adequate supply of competitive products on a timely basis and on commercially reasonable terms, improve its operating margins, secure adequate financial resources, maintain an adequate system of internal control, comply with debt covenants, and continually turn its inventories and accounts receivable, as well as changes in foreign laws, regulations and tariffs, new technologies, system implementation difficulties, competition, handset shortages or overages, terrorist acts, a decline in consumer confidence and continued economic weakness in the U.S. and other countries in which the Company does business and other risk factors, are discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Any one, or a combination of these risk factors could cause CellStar's actual results to vary materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company's forward-looking statements. DATASOURCE: CellStar Corporation CONTACT: Sherrian Gunn of CellStar Corporation, +1-972-466-5031, or Web site: http://www.cellstar.com/

Copyright