USA: Viren Named R.G. Barry Senior VP Finance & CFO

Gordon Zacks, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of R.G. Barry Corporation (NYSE: RGB), has named Daniel D. Viren Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer of the Company.Mr. Viren, 53, returns to the Ohio-based slippermaker where he held various executive financial positions from 1988 until leaving last year to become Chief Financial Officer of Dublin, Ohio-based Metatec International. He replaces R.G. Barry Senior Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer Richard L. Burrell who is retiring September 1, 2000, after 33 years with the Company."We are quite pleased Dan is returning. We feel he not only is the best candidate, but he returns to us as a proven and respected member of our senior management team. He knows our business, our people and what is needed for our future success. We think the transition between CFOs will be a seamless one," Mr. Zacks said."Dick's contributions to R.G. Barry during the past 33 years are too numerous to mention. Most recently, he has played a principal role in setting us on a course back toward sustained, profitable growth. He has been my close Associate and a great friend, and I'm sure I speak for all of our Associates when I say he will be missed."Viren will assume his new position by July 1.R.G. Barry Corporation is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of at-and-around-the-home comfort footwear. The Company also makes and sells thermal retention technology commercial and consumer products. To learn more about its businesses, visit the R.G. Barry Corporation's Web sites at