US-based fast-fashion retailer Rue21 has announced that Laurie Van Brunt has stepped down from her role as CEO of R21 Holding after completing five months at the helm. The casual apparel retailer further revealed that the company has appointed its former interim CEO Michael C. Appel as its permanent leader.

Notably, Michael was leading the charge since October last year on an interim basis when the company exited from bankruptcy during the fall in 2017.

Laurie joined the fast-fashion label earlier this year after leaving Chico’s FAS, where she was serving as the leader of the Soma intimates brand. Her appointment put an end to the brand’s nine-month-long search for a permanent top-level executive.

The company issued a press statement citing that the departure of its former CEO, Van Brunt is carried out as a mutual decision between both the parties.

Furthermore, the Board of Directors (BOD) of the American fashion label has asked Michael Appel to once again take the senior leadership role as Chief Executive Officer of the brand on a permanent basis.

“We picked Michael considering the improvement we managed to witness under his reign as the interim CEO, his successful recruitment of senior leadership, and retaining the core management,” the BOD said.

Markedly, Rue21 currently runs more than 750 outlets across 45 states in the United States, as well as its exclusive e-commerce platform to serve its shoppers in a diversified way.