Weight Watchers International, Inc., (NYSE: WTW - News), announced today the appointment of Mr. Thilo Semmelbauer as Chief Operating Officer of its North American operations, effective April 2004. This appointment is consistent with the Company's succession planning and follows Richard McSorley's decision to retire, after a transition period, at the end of May 2004.

Mr. Semmelbauer is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of WeightWatchers.com, Inc., the exclusive Internet licensee of Weight Watchers International Inc, and the online presence for the Weight Watchers brand. He has served in that position since February 2000. During that time, WeightWatchers.com has grown from a complete start up to almost $80 million in 2003 annual revenues and has become the leader in online weight loss. Prior to WeightWatchers.com, Mr. Semmelbauer was with The Boston Consulting Group in the Consumer Goods, Technology and e-Commerce practices. Previously, Mr. Semmelbauer was in Product Management at Motorola, Inc. He received his Master of Science degree in Management and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a graduate of Dartmouth College.

Mr. McSorley joined Weight Watchers International in January 2001 as the Chief Operating Officer of North American Operations following the Company's purchase of the Weight Watchers franchised meeting businesses from Weighco Enterprises, Inc., where he had served as President and CEO. Subsequently Mr. McSorley spearheaded the integration of five additional franchise acquisitions made by the Company, which expanded the reach of the Company-owned meeting business in the United States from 26 to 41 states.

"We are extremely grateful for the significant contribution that Dick McSorely has made to the growth of our meeting business over the last three years," said Ms. Linda Huett, President and Chief Executive Officer of Weight Watchers International, Inc. "His leadership has accomplished much within a short period of time. I wish him well. I am also delighted that Mr. Semmelbauer has agreed to join the Weight Watchers International team."

"Thilo is a very talented executive and has been instrumental to our success thus far. We are delighted that he will join Weight Watchers International and will continue to work closely with our company," said Ms. Sharon Fordham, CEO of WeightWatchers.com.

Mr. McSorley added, "I look forward to working with my friend and associate Thilo Semmelbauer over the next few months so that the transition in the management team will be seamless."