COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) announced today that David Campisi, its president and CEO, took medical leave after he was hospitalized on Friday, December 1^st, shortly after the Company's third quarter earnings call. Mr. Campisi is now recuperating at home. In connection with Mr. Campisi's temporary leave of absence, the Big Lots Board of Directors has assigned Mr. Campisi's executive responsibilities to Lisa M. Bachmann, Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising & Operating Officer, and Timothy A. Johnson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative & Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.

Ms. Bachmann and Mr. Johnson will continue to work closely with the other members of the Company's Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and the Board during Mr. Campisi's medical leave. In addition, James R. Chambers, the Company's non-executive chair of the Board, intends to spend additional time in Columbus with the leadership team during the duration of the medical leave.

"We have complete confidence in Lisa and TJ and the rest of the leadership team at Big Lots to continue the Company's strategic initiatives. David Campisi is an inspirational leader, and we look forward to his return to good health and to leading the Company again," said Mr. Chambers.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a community retailer operating 1,430 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states, dedicated to friendly service, trustworthy value, and affordable solutions in every season and category – furniture, food, décor, and more. We exist to serve everyone like family, providing a better shopping experience for our customers, valuing and developing our associates, and creating growth for our shareholders. Big Lots supports the communities it serves through the Big Lots Foundation, a charitable organization focused on four areas of need: hunger, housing, healthcare, and education. For more information about the Company, visit www.biglots.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of our objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although we believe the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect our business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

Forward-looking statements that we make herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, our inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on our customers and us, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in our other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our public announcements and SEC filings.

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SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.

Andrew D. Regrut, Vice President, Investor Relations, (614) 278-6622