Multi-channel women’s fashion retailer J.Jill has announced former Lane Bryant CEO Linda Heasley will succeed Paula Bennett as president and CEO next month.

Bennett will be succeeded by Linda Heasley, who has served on the company’s board of directors since March 2017. She will work closely with Heasley and the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition.

Headquartered outside of Boston, Massachusetts, J.Jill has a portfolio of 270 stores nationwide and an e-commerce platform.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Paula for her leadership and countless contributions to J.Jill over the past ten years,” said Michael Rahamim, chairman of the board. “Under Paula’s leadership and vision, J.Jill executed a profitable turnaround and grew into a premier omnichannel brand with exceptional customer loyalty and a strong operational foundation. This ultimately led to our successful IPO in March of 2017 despite a challenging retail environment.

“As we look forward to the company’s next phase of growth, we are excited to have Linda, a well-respected retail industry veteran, lead the team. With Linda’s tremendous leadership experience, outstanding track record of delivering results for women’s apparel businesses and a passion for the customer, the board is confident that she is the right leader to build on the strong foundation Paula and the team have created.”

Heasley, who recently served as CEO of The Honey Baked Ham Company, has previously held the position of CEO at Lane Bryant, a leading speciality size apparel brand, from 2013 to 2017, and is widely credited with revitalising the brand.

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She also served as chairman, president and CEO at Limited Stores LLC from 2007 to 2013, and held senior leadership roles at Timberland and L Brands.

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