Marla Gottschalk Named CEO of The Pampered Chef ADDISON, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2006--Marla Gottschalk, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Pampered Chef, will be named Chief Executive Officer on May 1, 2006. Gottschalk will continue to work in close partnership with Founder and Chairman Doris K. Christopher. Both Gottschalk and Christopher will report directly to Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. The Pampered Chef, a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of businesses, is the premier direct-seller of kitchen tools located in Addison, Illinois.

Gottschalk, aged 45, joined The Pampered Chef as President and COO in December of 2003. Founder and Chairman Doris K. Christopher said, "I value Marla's judgment and decision making without hesitation. From the beginning she demonstrated respect for our corporate history and values as she introduced changes to keep the brand vital for years to come. With Marla at the helm, I see great things for our future. Our sales leaders have warmly welcomed her leadership, and I feel it's a privilege to work with her."

Since 2003 Gottschalk has lead the team that has implemented numerous strategic initiatives to take the successful company to the next level. Her philosophy of simplifying the business for the sales field and focusing on the fundamentals of the business has made a noticeable positive impact.