Kit and Ace names Wendy Bennison as president

Canadian casual fashion retailer Kit and Ace has named Wendy Bennison as its new president, replacing interim chief executive Paul Wilson, who will resume his role as chief executive of Hold It All, the corporate parent of Kit and Ace.

Bennison joins the company from lifestyle brand Roots Canada, where she served as president and chief operating officer. While at Roots her focus was primarily on the expansion of the company’s category portfolio, as well as increasing sales and profitability by growing merchandise margins and reducing overhead. She also worked at clothing and footwear chain Mark’s Work Wearhouse.

In her new role with Kit and Ace, Bennison will be responsible for “driving the brand to the next level” and “building on the solid foundation and momentum achieved by the current executive team” with a focus on e-commerce evolution, store design, and people development.

“We feel very fortunate to have Wendy on board,” said Wilson. “She is a proven leader with an incredible depth of knowledge in the retail marketplace – both here in Canada and internationally. We’re confident that there is no better person to helm the next phase of our growth.”

Bennison added: “Kit and Ace is setting the bar for innovation and growth among global retailers. I am thrilled to be a part of the talented team and I look forward to building on the company’s success.”

Vancouver-based Kit and Ace was founded in 2014 by Shannon and JJ Wilson, the wife and son of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson. It has since established an online presence and nearly 60 stores across North America, Australia, and the UK, its first European store is located on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch, east London.

Image: Kit and Ace