Mitchell S. Klipper became chief operating officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc. in February 2002. Prior to that, he was president of Barnes & Noble Development, the group responsible for the company’s real estate operations. Since 1995, Mr. Klipper and the Barnes & Noble Development group have been responsible for the site locations, designs, and construction of more than 600 Barnes & Noble “super” stores. Previously, he was chief financial officer of Barnes & Noble, Inc., a position to which he was elected in September 1988. From 1986 to 1988, he was vice president and chief financial officer of Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Inc. Mr. Klipper began his career in public accounting with the firm of KMG Main Hurdman, where he served for seven years in various capacities, including audit manager. Mr. Klipper holds a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Buffalo. He resides in Woodbury with his wife Rosemarie and four sons.