Liberty recruits operations chief

Liberty has poached Amanda Brooks from LK Bennett to fill the post of retail operations director in the latest top-level changes at the London store.

The retailer has parted company with director of marketing and communications Deborah Fitzgerald, who has left after less than a year. She will not be replaced, but commercial director Jacqui Unsworth and marketing manager Jane Costin have assumed extra duties.

Brooks, who was retail director at LK Bennett, is tasked with shaping the Liberty proposition and improving customer service. The store recently signed Tamara Salman as director of design to lead the own-brand development programme.

Private-label merchandise is a key plank of chief executive Iain Renwick's plan to turn the loss-making business around, with Salman concentrating on the soft home and fashion accessory categories.