Marks & Spencer announces management changes

Marks & Spencer has announced a series of changes designed to simplify its management structure to drive speedier decision making and move the business closer to its customers.

Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne becomes Executive Director of customer, marketing and M&S.com, and assumes new responsibilities for M&S.com and Plan A. Consequently, the international business now reports to the CEO, Steve Rowe. Helen Weir, Chief Finance Officer, assumes responsibility for strategy implementation.

Commenting on the changes, Steve Rowe, M&S CEO, said, “On my first day as CEO, I committed to putting M&S customers at the heart of everything we do. These changes reflect this; a simpler management structure with a smaller, more focused team running M&S will lead to more efficient decision making and move us closer to our customers.”

M&S also established a new operating committee that will be accountable for the day-to-day running of the business as well as for the development and execution of strategy. On the operating committee, the Executive Directors will be joined by the Directors of food - Andy Adcock; womenswear, lingerie & beauty - Jo Jenkins; retail - Sacha Berendji; international - Paul Friston; communications & investor relations - Dominic Fry; human resources - Simmone Haywood and the group secretary and Head of corporate governance - Amanda Mellor.

picture:corporate.marksandspencer.com