Saks Fifth Avenue's Asset Protection Team
Key Players in Keeping Employees and Guests Safe
During Bombing

The Saks Fifth Avenue store in Boston's Prudential Center is located only a couple hundred yards away from the scene of yesterday's horrific explosions during the Boston Marathon.

Once law enforcement quickly assessed the incident to be a criminal act, the immediate area was cordoned off as a crime scene, and Saks Fifth Avenue was caught in the middle of it all.

Saks Fifth Avenue District Asset Protection Manager Kevin Lee quickly led the store's leadership team in executing their emergency response plan, ensuring the safety of all guests, associates and the building.

A shelter in place strategy was quickly enacted while coordinating efforts with local and federal law enforcement agencies as well as their mall management partners.

Upon receiving the "all clear" directive from law enforcement, a controlled evacuation was executed, directing associates and guests away from the affected area.

The main lobby entrance of the Saks Boston flagship store was immediately turned into a temporary command station by a contingent of FBI and Boston Police Department SWAT and Counter Terrorism officers, but not until they performed a painstaking inspection of the store.

Back in New York, Corporate Asset Protection leadership members led by Rosamaria Sostilio were able to watch yesterday's incident unfold in real time from the Company's emergency command center at its corporate offices in midtown Manhattan.

Utilizing remote video viewing, they were able to monitor the efforts of their Asset Protection team and provide direction as needed.

"When you're in the business of mitigating risk, you always plan for the worst and hope for the best. Fortunately, we were able to execute our emergency preparedness plan at our store to ensure the well-being of our customers and store associates and provide shelter for so many other innocent people who sought refuge in our store, taking them out of harm's way as this horrific incident unraveled. As a native Bostonian, my heart and prayers go out to all of the innocent victims and their families who have been impacted by this tragic event," said Rosamaria Sostilio, SVP of Asset Protection.