Radice takes up M&S clothing challenge
Responsibility expanded to include clothing revamp
March 4 2004
Vittorio Radice is to an even more crucial role in the development of Marks & Spencer after agreeing to add responsibility for revitalising the M&S clothing offer to his brief.
After a high profile, and at times awkward, external search which saw several high profile retail names claim to have turned down approaches from M&S, the role has gone to former Selfridges chief executive Radice.
Radice hoined M&S a year ago, initally with responsibility for homeware. Alongside the high profile launch of the new M&S Lifestore format last month, he was alostasked with masterminding a fundamental revamp of M&S’s store formats.
His job expands to the new post of executive director for general merchandise, responsible for clothing, home and store development.
[img r]M&Swomenswear2.jpg[/img]The clothing job became vacant when former M&S director of clothing David Norgrove resigned in January in the wake of poor clothing sales across the crucial Christmas period.
M&S chief executive, Roger Holmes said: “The appointment of Vittorio to this new role is absolutely the right choice at the right time. Vittorio is acknowledged as an outstanding retailer with an ability to be bold and to transform our offer to customers, as he has shown with the launch of Marks & Spencer Lifestore.”
Radice said: “Clothing at Marks & Spencer has to be one of the most exciting jobs in retail today and I am taking it on with great enthusiasm. I look forward to working with the team to build this important part of the company.’
M&S has also recruited Mark McKeon to another newly created board position, executive director of retail, international and outlets.
McKeon, 45, began his career with Waitrose, before moving to Next, where he was retail sales director. He was subsequently retail director and then European managing director of Episode, before joining Starbucks as president of Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Holmes said: ‘Mark has a wealth of experience in fashion retailing. He will bring a new dimension to our store operations and I am very pleased he is joining Marks & Spencer.’
Mark McKeon said: “I see this as an outstanding opportunity to join the UK’s most respected retailer, at a time of dynamic change.”
Both appointments are effective from April 5, with Norgrove’s formal departure date confirmed as March 31.
M&S chairman Luc Vandevelde said: “Vittorio’s and Mark’s appointments are a clear illustration of our ability to attract and retain the best in the market. The combination of their fashion and retail talents alongside the other members of the board, brings together a powerful set of complementary skills at the top of the company.”
