To fill its GC role, it looks as though Abercrombie & Fitch Co. went shopping for an attorney with both in-house leadership and retail industry experience.

The New Albany, Ohio-based company announced the appointment of Gregory Henchel as senior vice president and general counsel Thursday. Henchel will replace current GC Bob Bostrom, who said in July he planned to “pursue new challenges” after four years with the company.

In his new role, Henchel will lead Abercrombie's legal department and serve as corporate secretary. He'll report to chief executive officer Fran Horowitz.

“I'm excited to join A&F at this pivotal time in the company's journey. I look forward to working with Fran and the global team as the brands continue to evolve,” Henchel said in a statement.

Henchel has spent more than seven years as chief legal officer for home shopping retailer HSN, Inc., a company worth over $3 billion. He ranked among Florida's top-earning legal leaders in 2014, according to a previous Corporate Counsel GC Compensation Survey.

Prior to HSN, he spent nearly a decade as general counsel of Tween Brands Inc., the company behind clothing retailer Justice. He's also served as assistant general counsel at medical device company Cardinal Health Inc.

Henchel started his legal career as a litigation associate at Jones Day after graduating from the University of Michigan Law School.

Bostrom's July 25 separation agreement said he would continue as GC until Sept. 30, and possibly take on a part-time company adviser role after that.

The departing legal boss told Corporate Counsel last year that as GC he often focuses on hiring outside counsel close to home, and has frequently turned to Columbus, Ohio-based Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease. He also often hired Jones Day, Dentons and Baker & Mc­Kenzie.

In an Abercrombie 10-Q filed Monday, the company discussed some of its legal risk and challenges, which could land on Henchel's plate.

Risks included litigation exposure, failure to adequately protect trademarks and changes in the regulatory and compliance landscape.

The company also noted in the filing that it is the defendant in lawsuits and other adversary proceedings, including class action employment lawsuits in federal courts in California and Ohio. As of Aug. 4, Abercrombie has accrued approximately $23 million in charges for certain legal contingencies.