House of Fraser appoints Buying and Merchandising Director

House of Fraser has confirmed the appointment of Simon Pickering to the newly expanded role of Buying and Merchandising Director for apparel and accessories within the company. The company said, he would be joining the business on February 12, 2018.

The company added that Pickering will take on buying and merchandising for apparel and accessories, across House of Fraser’s house brands, own bought and concessions. He will also be responsible for product quality and will report to Maria Hollins, Executive Director of product and trading.

Commenting on the new appointment, Hollins said in a statement: “I am pleased to welcome Simon to the House of Fraser team. He has a wealth of experience in the retail and digital space, which will be invaluable as we continue to transform our business at pace.”

Pickering brings over 25 years’ experience in the retail industry and joins House of Fraser from Reiss where he was chief digital officer. He previously held director roles leading the buying, merchandising and design functions across a number of retailers including Fat Face, Arcadia Group, Debenhams and Gap.