Luxury homewares etailer Amara has appointed Maddie Melson, formerly of House of Fraser, as its first chief customer officer.

The appointment follows that of former Tesco chief customer officer Robin Terrell as a non-executive director, who also holds non-executive roles at Wilko and Cocoon.

Amara heralded both appointments as marking “the start of an ambitious growth phase”, adding that it planned to grow both internationally and online.

Melson’s role will both refine the customer journey and support international growth plans by shaping a global customer interaction strategy.

Melson began her career at Figleaves and John Lewis, moving to House of Fraser in 2010, where she stayed for six years, finishing her stint at the department store chain as director of customer insight.

Melson said: “Amara joins the ranks of progressive retailers who have identified the CCO role as a crucial element of their growth strategy.

”Amara’s dedication to developing an exemplary customer experience is demonstrated in this big step for the business. It will enable us to engage with and delight our customers, growing the brand both in the UK and internationally.”

Melson will work closely with Terrell, who joined the etailer in November.

Terrell said: “With its proven growth, strong online results and international performance, Amara is an exciting place to be with many prospects. I believe there’s a significant opportunity to continue to build the business and the brand.”