Former Lady Foot Locker chief to lead Lane Bryant Outlet

Charming Shoppes Inc. (CHRS) hired Marla Anderson, former head of Lady Foot Locker, as president of its Lane Bryant Outlet business. She succeeds MaryEllen MacDowell, who was promoted to president of Fashion Bug last month.

Anderson was president and chief executive of Lady Foot Locker from 2005 through early 2010 Before joining that company 11 years ago, she worked at a host of other retailers.

The apparel seller, which specializes in women's plus-size clothes, has struggled with persistent sales declines. Demand slumped during the recession and more recently its core tops and bottoms assortment fell flat with customers. Same-store sales at the company's Lane Bryant segment, which makes up nearly half of its sales, fell 3%, while Fashion Bug, which specializes in both misses and plus sizes, saw a 9% drop.

Charming Shoppes' shares closed at $4.07. The stock is down 37% this year.

-By Kathy Shwiff, Dow Jones Newswires;