Limited Brands to create Canadian unit, expand in Middle East

Columbus, Ohio Limited Brands is creating a separate unit, to be called Limited Brands Canada, for its Canadian operations.

The new unit will be based in Montreal, and support all Limited Brands retail stores, including its Canadian lingerie chain La Senza, as well as Canadian expansion of its Bath & Body Works stores, Victoria's Secret standalone Pink stores and Victoria's Secret stores.

La Senza president Joanne Nemeroff has been named president of the unit.

As part of the change, the company is shifting creative and merchant functions of La Senza to Columbus, Ohio. Financial, legal, human resources, distribution, technology and other operations will remain in Canada.

Separately, the company said it is partnering with M.H. Alshaya Co. to operate stores in the Middle East, beginning with a Bath & Body Works store to open later this year.