M&S plays down Yusuf departure rumour
Creative director said to be approached by rival
November 19 2002
Marks & Spencer chief executive, Roger Holmes has moved to block rumours that creative director for clothing Yasmin Yusuf may be about to leave, according to a report in the Times.
The newspaper said Yusuf is believed to have told M&S chairman Luc Vandevelde that she has been approached by a rival retailer, thought to be Philip Green, the owner of BhS and Arcadia. Green denies that he has made any approach to her, but he is looking for a managing director for Arcadia.
Before joining M&S in January 2001, Yusuf ran the Warehouse chain, which was then part of Arcadia.
Holmes told the Times: “We are delighted with what Yasmin is doing here and I would be very surprised to hear that she was planning to go.” However, he refused to deny that there have been urgent discussions about her future with the company.
Holmes pointed out that Yusuf fronted the launch of the M&S spring/summer collection to the media and the City last week, “Would we have done that had there been any issue about her staying?”
