Retailer lures national CEO for a top post

Women's retailer Chico's FAS named Diane Ellis president of the Chico's brand.

Ellis will oversee all business activities for Fort Myers-based Chico's and will report directly to president and CEO Shelley Broader, according to a release. Ellis was most recently CEO of The Limited, an Ohio-based retail chain owned by a private equity firm. Prior to that Ellis was president and COO of Brooks Brothers, the release adds. She has more than 35 years experience in retail.

Prior to Brooks Brothers, Ellis was a founding partner at Lighthouse Retail Group; managing director for the Retail Strategy Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers; and director of merchandise planning, allocation and inventory control at Filene's.