Aurora Fashions has made two key appointments to its Coast and Oasis brands.

The group, which also operates Karen Millen and Warehouse, has appointed new managing directors to the retail chains, which between them have more than 450 stores.

Liz Evans, who is the current managing director of Coast, will take the same role at Oasis having been at Aurora for four years.

She will be replaced at Coast by new managing director Margaret McDonald, the former boss of LK Bennett.

McDonald was chief executive of LK Bennett from the end of 2008 until April this year. She began her retail career at Primark before a stint in the US where she worked on brands including Gap and Banana Republic.

Evans has been at Coast since 2006 when she joined as retail director from Marks & Spencer, rising to managing director by November 2007.

Her appointment at Oasis follows a successful period at the helm of Coast, where she oversaw the opening of 90 stores and the expansion of the brand into seven new international markets.

Aurora Fashions chief executive Mike Shearwood said: “I am delighted to announce these appointments, which are a key part in positioning both Oasis and Coast for continued growth and future success”.

Both appointments will come into effect in October.