Former BHS boss appointed to CEO role at LK Bennett

Darren Topp the former chief executive of BHS, who was credited with attempting to save the troubled high street department store from its recent collapse, has been appointed as CEO at premium women's brand LK Bennett.

Topp replaces interim CEO Robert Bensoussan, who will be returning to his role as chairman of the company, and he also brings with him former BHS financial consultant Michael Hitchcock who takes up the role as chief financial officer. Hitchcock replaces Alison Egan who will remain a consultant for LK Bennett.

Topp endured a torrid time at BHS as he attempted to keep the business afloat following its infamous sale by Sir Philip Green to the Dominic Chappell-led consortium Retail Acquisitions for £1 just over a year ago.

BHS collapsed leaving 11,000 without a job and has been the subject of a select committee investigation during which Topp said his relationship with Chappell had completely broken down to the point that Chappell issued him with a death threat (something Chappell denied). Sir Philip Green has faced severe criticism for selling the business to Chappell and is currently in negotiations about plugging the vast hole in the business' pension fund.

Bensoussan, who has been acting as interim CEO having ousted Didier Drouet two years ago, said Topp was a "30-year veteran of British retail" and before BHS had held senior positions at Marks & Spencer. Hitchcock has previously worked for Moss Bross and Beales.

"Having been an investor in LK Bennett since 2008 and having spent the last two years as interim chief executive, now is the right time for me to step back into a non-executive role. I look forward to working with Darren and Michael," he said.

Bensoussan is also the founder of Sirius Equity, which along with Phoenix Private Equity, owns LK Bennett.