Cookson quits after two years as BSSA chairman

Hilary Cookson, owner of occasionwear specialist Maureen Cookson in Whalley in Lancashire, has stood down from her role as chairman of the BSSA.

Cookson, who has occupied the post for the past two years, will remain on the retail body's executive board. She is succ-eeded by Jonathan Holden of Holdens furniture store in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Cookson said: "I have truly enjoyed putting something back into the industry. I would like to think I leave my chair in good hands as in increasingly difficult times the BSSA is all the more important for our industry. The past two years have been a fantastic learning curve, professionally and personally."

BSSA chief executive John Dean said of Cookson's time as chairman: "Hilary has been very proactive. She is very PR- and media-savvy and this has rubbed off on the association.

"She has been extremely supportive across the board despite being intimately inv-olved with her own operation."

Dean continued: "She will remain on the executive board over the next two years and I have no doubt she will play her full part in our activities."

A raft of changes at the BSSA were announced in line with Cookson's decision to stand down at the AGM earlier this month. Jonathan Hopson, managing director of department store Camp Hopson in Newbury, Berkshire, has been elected as an additional director.

The fashion representatives at the BSSA remain Gary Culver of Frederick Mabb in Yeovil in Somerset and Matthew Hansford of JR Hansford in Chichester, West Sussex. Nicolas Brown of Browns of York is vice chairman.