LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Kate Bostock, one of the biggestnames in Britain's retail industry, is going to head upprivately owned clothing chain Coast, as it eyes internationalexpansion, according to British media reports.
Bostock quit online fashion retailer ASOS lastmonth after just seven months as executive director of productand trading, deciding the fast-growing online fashion firm thattargets young women looking to emulate the designer looks ofcelebrities wasn't for her.
She previously spent eight years at Britain's biggestclothing retailer, Marks & Spencer, as head ofmerchandising, making her one of the most powerful women in theretail sector.
Bostock, 56, has also worked for Next, Britain'ssecond-largest clothing retailer, and for the George brand atAsda, a subsidiary of the world's largest retailer, Wal-MartStores Inc.
She will join Coast as chief executive in September,replacing Margaret McDonald who moved to U.S. lingerie brandVictoria's Secret, a unit of L Brands Inc.
Bostock will work alongside Chairman Derek Lovelock toexpand the brand globally and within Britain and to widen itsappeal beyond mainly formal wear, Lovelock told industrypublication Retail Week. Coast currently has about 370 stores inabout 26 countries.
"Her experience in meeting customers' demands and in productdevelopment, allied with her expertise at leading teams andimplementing strategic plans will be invaluable to Coast,"Lovelock told the industry publication.
Her appointment comes after Coast's former parent, AuroraFashions, partly owned by Icelandic bank Kaupthing, unveiledplans in March to make Coast a stand-alone business and combineits two other retailers Oasis and Warehouse into a new business.
Mike Shearwood, Aurora chief executive officer, said in astatement at that time that this would allow Coast to build onits position as a specialist in formal wear with more flagshipopenings, a new website and international growth.
Neither Coast nor Aurora Fashions could be reached forcomment.
Marks & Spencer (MKS)
Next (NXT)