Brand boss Jo Bohling exits USC

USC's brand and marketing director Jo Bohling is leaving the branded young fashion chain to set up a brand and marketing agency aimed at smaller UK retailers and international brands looking for UK-specific marketing expertise.

Bohling, who joined USC five-and-a-half years ago, will step down at Christmas. He said: "There appears to be a bit of a dearth of marketing expertise in some sectors and given the current climate this area needs to drive demonstrable value for brands and retailers."

USC plans to replace Bohling and is also understood to be looking to recruit a head of product to lead its buying team.

A source close to USC said: "USC used to have a team of 14 buyers but this has been scaled down. Now it wants to fill in the gaps and hire someone with an overview of all product in store, who can make sure it is a sensible offering which ties together and who will make sure USC is identifying new brands early."

Head of womenswear buying Nicola Loudon and head of menswear buying Stephen Innes will be given two buying assistants and USC will also look to hire four additional buyers.

A USC spokesman said: "We wish Jo well, he has been an asset. We hope to continue using him on a consultancy basis."