Leading clothing retailer, George, announced today (19 January 2007) that it has appointed Fiona Lambert, women's wear product director at Next, as brand director, while at the same time promoting current trading director, Mark Daynes, to chief operating officer. He re-joined the business in March last year (2006). 

Fiona worked with George Davies, founder of the brand, when George was in its infancy 16 years ago.  Mark joined in 1997 during the brand's explosive growth phase.  Both were instrumental in creating the value fashion proposition as we know it today. 

The creation of both roles is a significant step change to the way the George business is managed and is designed to further establish the retailer's credentials as the value fashion retailer in the UK. 

The role of brand director will oversee design direction, buying and technological development of the 237 million garments George sells in the UK alone, while the chief operating officer role will head up all operational areas of the business.  Both will report to Angela Spindler, managing director, George Global. 

"It's welcome back to Fiona," said Angela Spindler, George global managing director, "Fiona's one of the most influential figures in British retail and we are very excited to have her back.  Both Mark's promotion and Fiona's arrival are very clear signals that there are exciting times ahead at George for both customers and colleagues alike." 

"I am delighted to be returning to George," added Fiona Lambert, George's new brand director. "I'm also looking forward to growing the offer by driving our unbeatable value position, as well as responding to the ever changing demands of today's customers by making George Britain's favourite clothing brand, with real emphasis on quality, style and price." 

Mark, since his return to George, has been credited with creating what George calls 'significant step changes' with current team structures and fostering new ways of working.  

This includes the creation of a dedicated sourcing team, which creates long term, on-going relationships with suppliers bringing both business benefits and underpinning George's ethical policy. 

Started 16 years ago by George Davies, George was the first fashion brand to be sold in a supermarket.  Today it is a worldwide brand and has a turnover of over £2bn.  It famously uses Coleen McCoughlin as the face of its ever popular Must Have range.-ENDS-