Wendy Bennison at Roots’ flagship store in Toronto. (CNW Group/Roots Canada Ltd.)
Kit and Ace has hired former Roots executive Wendy Bennison to be its new president, saying there is “no better person” to help with the expansion of the upscale clothing brand.
Vancouver-based Kit and Ace announced the appointment on May 2.
“We feel very fortunate to have Wendy on board,” said interim CEO Paul Wilson, who will go back to his role as CEO of Hold It All, Kit and Ace’s corporate parent and a Wilson family holding company.
Paul Wilson is not a relative of Kit and Ace founders Shannon Wilson (wife of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson) and her stepson John James Wilson.
“She is a proven leader with an incredible depth of knowledge in the retail marketplace – both here in Canada and internationally,” Paul Wilson said of Bennison. “We’re confident that there is no better person to helm the next phase of our growth.”
Bennison was most recently president and chief operating officer at lifestyle brand Roots, with a focus on expansion of its category portfolio, as well as growing merchandise margins and reducing overhead, according to a press release. Bennison also worked for about 14 years at Mark’s, including most recently as vice-president, national operations.
“Kit and Ace is setting the bar for innovation and growth among global retailers,” Bennison stated in the release.
Kit and Ace said Bennison had direct experience in areas such as ecommerce growth, store design and “people development.”
“She will be responsible for driving the brand to the next level, building on the solid foundation and momentum achieved by the current executive team,” the release stated.
