Liberty names buying and merchandising boss as new MD for Retail

Liberty has appointed Lydia King as Managing Director of Retail, succeeding Sarah Coonan, who will leave the British department store at the end of the month.

King was most recently Group Buying & Merchandising Director at Liberty, where she played a "central" role in shaping the retailer’s buying strategy and led teams across fashion, beauty and lifestyle.

In her new position, she will retain responsibility for Liberty’s buying and merchandising functions, as well as oversight of the Liberty flagship store.

Before joining Liberty, King served as Fashion Director at Harrods, overseeing womenswear, accessories, shoes and childrenswear.

She also previously spent 13 years at Selfridges, where she held the role of Womenswear Buying & Merchandising Director. Her career began in luxury fashion PR, informing her approach to brand building, product strategy and retail execution.

Adil Mehboob Khan, CEO of Liberty, said: "Lydia is an outstanding retail leader with deep product knowledge, sharp commercial instinct and a clear creative vision.

"She has already had a significant impact on Liberty’s success, and her appointment as Managing Director, Retail, is a natural next step. Lydia’s experience will be instrumental as we continue to build on our momentum and shape the future of Liberty."

The appointment reflects Liberty’s focus on evolving its offer for a "modern, global customer", while remaining rooted in its heritage of creativity, curation and cultural relevance.

King said: "Liberty is a truly special business - a place defined by creativity, discovery and an unwavering commitment to quality. Having worked closely with the teams over recent years, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to step into this role at such an important moment for the brand.

"My focus will be on continuing to evolve Liberty’s retail experience, championing exceptional product and ensuring our flagship store remains one of the most inspiring places to shop in the world."

Coonan will depart on 31 January to support a "smooth transition". Her exit comes during a period of strong performance and continued growth for Liberty.