The Honey Baked Ham Company, LLC, (HoneyBaked Ham) one of the nation's premier food retailers, announced Linda Heasley as its new chief executive officer effective Feb. 6, 2017.

Heasley, former president and CEO of Ascena Retail Group's plus size fashion segment, succeeds HoneyBaked Ham Chairman and interim CEO Paul Roth.

"We have been pursuing Linda for months," said Roth. "She is a well-respected and visionary CEO with a proven track record of developing strong teams and delivering results. We are proud that she will be a part of the HoneyBaked Ham family to continue our 60-year success story."

Heasley oversaw 800 Lane Bryant, Catherine's and Cacique stores nationwide and is widely credited with revitalizing the Lane Bryant brand. Prior to Ascena, Heasley was chairman, president and CEO of The Limited, Inc. She has also held executive positions with Timberland and CVS Caremark.

"I am excited to have the opportunity to join one of the most venerable retail food brands in America," said Heasley. "As a family-owned business, HoneyBaked Ham has a stellar reputation, not just for its outstanding products, but also for its culture and dedication to its employees. I look forward to working with the team to support their incredible growth and finding new ways to enhance the customer experience."

A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Heasley graduated from Harvard University and received a master's degree from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).