Marks & Spencer changes board responsibilities and introduces new management structure
Marks & Spencer has made a series of changes to its board responsibilities and simplified its management structure in order to drive speedier decision making and move the business closer to its customers.
Its executive director for marketing and international Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne has become executive director of customer, marketing & M&S.com, and assumes new responsibilities for M&S.com and Plan A. Consequently, the international business now reports to M&S chief executive, Steve Rowe.
Meanwhile, chief finance officer Helen Weir has assumed responsibility for strategy implementation.
Currently on maternity leave, executive director of multichannel Laura Wade-Gery will be updated on her responsibilities when she returns in September.
M&S is also establishing a new operating committee that will be accountable for the day-to-day running of the business and the development and execution of strategy.
As well as the retailer’s executive directors, the operating committee will include director of food Andy Adcock, director of womenswear, lingerie & beauty Jo Jenkins, director of retail Sacha Berendji, and director of international Paul Friston. Other directors sitting on the committee will include communications and investor relations director Dominic Fry, human resources director Simmone Haywood and the group secretary and head of corporate governance Amanda Mellor.
Rowe 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.
“The new operating committee will be working together to improve M&S, starting with fixing our clothing & home offer for our customers, our employees and our shareholders.”
