Marks & Spencer restructures board to get ‘fit for the future of retail’
Marks & Spencer has handed responsibility for UK retail to multi-channel director Laura Wade-Gery as part of an executive team shake-up that will see UK retail and the international business represented at board level for the first time.
The retailer said the changes are part of a wider move to drive greater accountability and responsibility across the business.
In addition to her current M&S.com remit, Wade-Gery will assume responsibility for UK retail with retail director Sacha Berendji reporting into her.
Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer’s international business will now report to Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne who will retain his responsibilities as marketing and business development director. Costas Antimissaris, currently business development director for international, has been appointed international director to replace Jan Heere who is leaving the business to return to Russia.
Marks & Spencer said the changes will ensure that the business has “one view” of the customer. There has also been an internal realignment of responsibilities to drive more accountability and responsibility across the organisation.
In further changes, chief finance officer Alan Stewart has taken on property as part of his financial asset management role. Hugo Adams, currently executive assistant to Marc Bolland, has become property director, reporting to Stewart.
Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland said: “Over the last three years, we have worked hard to transform M&S into an international, multi-channel retailer that is fit for the future of retail. We now have the right infrastructure in place to take our business forward, and as we enter the next phase of our plan, we need to make sure our team structures and internal processes allow us to move with pace, simplicity and speed.”
