Robert E. Bostrom, who was named chief legal officer this time last year at home decor retailer Pier 1 Imports Inc. and served as general counsel at mortgage lender Freddie Mac and clothing chain Abercrombie & Fitch Co., has died.

The president and CEO of the Association of Corporate Counsel, Veta Richardson, announced Bostrom's passing on LinkedIn on Thursday night. A Pier 1 spokeswoman confirmed Bostrom's passing with Corporate Counsel on Friday afternoon.

Christine Murray, Pier 1's executive vice president and chief human resources officer, wrote in a statement that Bostrom made a "lasting impact" on the "company, leadership team and culture."

"Bob was known as a friend, a trusted adviser and a highly respected colleague with 40 years of experience," Murray wrote. "Bob was devoted to his family and spoke of them often and with admiration. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with his loved ones during this difficult time."

Richardson said in her social media post that Bostrom's "positive impact on our lives, the legal profession and business community will be felt for many years to come" as an active member of the global in-house counsel bar association.

"Bob was caring and kind, quick to lend his experience and guidance," Richardson wrote. "He was an adviser for countless ACC programs, a conference speaker, author, mentor, thought leader and more. Bob also actively worked to open doors to others as a leading diversity and inclusion advocate."

Bostrom had been named chief legal officer, executive vice president, chief compliance officer, and corporate secretary at Pier 1 this week a year ago. He was one of the first of several C-suite appointments the Fort Worth, Texas-based company made last year as it faces declining sales. In the company's latest business update, Pier 1 laid out its plan to close 450 stores.

Prior to joining the Pier 1 C-suite, Bostrom was the general counsel of Abercrombie & Fitch. He held the top lawyer position, along with the senior vice president and corporate secretary roles, from January 2014 to September 2018. He stayed with the retailer as senior vice president and special counsel until January 2019.

His in-house career also includes a stint as general counsel of Washington, D.C.-based Freddie Mac from 2006 to 2011. Early in his career, Bostrom was general counsel at National Westminster Bancorp from 1992 to 1996 and as an attorney for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

For private practice, Bostrom was co-chair of the financial institutions and regulatory compliance practice group at Greenberg Traurig in New York from 2012 to 2013. He also was the co-head of the global financial institutions and funds sector for SNR Denton, now Dentons, from 2011 to 2012 in New York and D.C. He also spent nine years with Winston & Strawn, where he was head of the financial institutions practice from 1996 to 2006 and managing partner of the New York office from 1997 to 2005.

Bostrom earned his juris doctor from Boston College Law School and a master's degree of international affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.

This is a developing story.