Kate Bostock returns to high Street at Coast
Kate Bostock, the former Marks & Spencer, Asos and Asda clothing executive, is returning to the high street as the chief executive of womenswear brand Coast.
She will be charged with growing sales across the occasionwear retailer’s 370 stores in 26 countries and its international ecommerce site. International sales currently contribute more than 35 per cent of the brand’s total turnover, the company says.
Bostock will join Coast in September, replacing Margaret McDonald, who left the business to join US lingerie retailer Victoria’s Secret last month.
Coast is owned by Icelandic bank Kaupthing and the former management team behind Aurora Fashions, which used to own Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen and was brought out of bankruptcy by the bank in 2009.
Coast became a standalone business in March this year, which prompted speculation the group was looking to sell the brand – and Bostock’s appointment may serve to add weight to the rumours.
Bostock joins the retailer from Asos, where she stepped down from her executive director of product and trading role last month after concluding the company “was not the right place” for her to work.
She also resigned from her previous role at Marks & Spencer where she was general merchandise executive director.
Bostock has also held senior roles at George at Asda and Next.
