House of Fraser has created a new executive role to oversee buying and design and hired Asos’ global product and trading director Maria Hollins.

Hollins will become the executive director for buying and design in May, bringing together the two teams for the first time.

She comes direct from Asos which she joined in November 2011. Prior to that she spent 18 years at Arcadia, working across a number of brands including Dorothy Perkins and Topman.

Hollins will oversee all buying and design functions across the business, aiming for a more consistent approach to buying, design and sourcing.

Reporting to chief executive Nigel Oddy, she will work with House of Fraser brands to grow all categories and will have an overview of the department store’s estate, helping to improve space management.

Oddy said: “This newly created role will bring together for the first time buying and design functions across the business, allowing a more unified and strategic approach to key trading areas of our business.

“Maria’s expertise and guidance will be invaluable to us as we continue to work to enhance our leading multichannel proposition and to grow our business.”