8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8–K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): November 19, 2014

THE WET SEAL, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Delaware	001-35634	33-0415940
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
	26972 Burbank Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
(Address of principal executive offices; zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

(949) 699-3900

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 14d-2(b))

[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On November 19, 2014, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of The Wet Seal, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the appointment of Mr. Tom Hillebrandt (age 52) as the interim Chief Financial Officer, interim principal financial officer and interim principal accounting officer of the Company, effective on December 1, 2014. In connection with such appointment, the Board authorized an increase in Mr. Hillebrandt’s base compensation from $238,000 to $255,000 annually.

Mr. Hillebrandt has served as the Vice President and Corporate Controller of the Company since September 2013. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hillebrandt served as Vice President of Finance/IT for The Territory Ahead, a multi-channel apparel retailer, from February 2010 to July 2012; as Chief Financial Officer for Deckers Outdoor Corporation, a designer, marketer and distributer of footwear, apparel and accessories, from April 2008 to April 2009; as Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of K2 Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of brand name sporting goods and recreational products, from 2004 to 2008; and as Chief Financial Officer of Fotoball USA, Inc., a retailer of sports souvenirs and memorabilia, from 2000 until its acquisition by K2 Inc. in 2004. In addition, he served as Chief Financial Officer for several privately held internet and technology firms. Mr. Hillebrandt is a Certified Public Accountant and received an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

On November 19, 2014, the Company issued a press release announcing Mr. Hillebrandt’s appointment as the Company’s interim chief financial officer. The press release is furnished as Exhibits 99.1, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. In accordance with General Instruction B.2 of Form 8-K, the information in Exhibit 99.1 and in this Item 7.01 shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

The Exhibit Index appearing after the signature page to this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		THE WET SEAL, INC. (Registrant)
Date: November 21, 2014	By:	/s/ Steven H. Benrubi
	Name:	Steven H. Benrubi
	Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT
NUMBER	DESCRIPTION
99.1	Press release, dated November 20, 2014, issued by the Company.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

Contact:

Steven H. Benrubi

(949) 699-3947

THE WET SEAL, INC. NAMES THOMAS R. HILLEBRANDT

INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA, November 20, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) - The Wet Seal, Inc. (Nasdaq: WTSL), a leading specialty retailer to young women, today announced that Thomas R. Hillebrandt will assume the role of Interim Chief Financial Officer, effective December 1, 2014, concurrent with the previously announced resignation of Steven H. Benrubi, the Company’s current Chief Financial Officer.

Ed Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Tom is a strong leader with a solid background at the Company and we are excited that he has taken on the role of Interim CFO. He has worked closely with Steve for more than a year, and I am confident that this will be a seamless transition.”

Mr. Hillebrandt has served as Vice President and Corporate Controller at Wet Seal since September 2013. Previously, he served as Vice President of Finance/IT for The Territory Ahead, a multi-channel apparel retailer. Mr. Hillebrandt also previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Deckers Outdoor Corporation, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of K2 Inc., and Chief Financial Officer of Fotoball USA, Inc. In addition, he served as Chief Financial Officer for several privately held internet and technology firms. Mr. Hillebrandt is a Certified Public Accountant and received an M.S. in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin.

About The Wet Seal, Inc.

The Wet Seal, Inc., a pioneer in fast fashion retailing, sells apparel, footwear and accessories designed for teen girls and young women of all sizes through retail stores nationwide, as well as an e-commerce website. As of November 1, 2014, the Company operated a total of 528 stores in 47 states and Puerto Rico and www.wetseal.com. For more company information, visit www.wetsealinc.com.

Safe Harbor

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This news release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements that relate to the Company's intent, beliefs, plans or expectations of the Company or its management. All forward-looking statements made by the Company involve material risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on factors beyond the Company's control. Accordingly, the Company's future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company will not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein will not be realized.