M&S reveals new top team
Marks & Spencer has restructured its management team with the external appointment of two senior executives.
Steven Esom is to join as director of food after stepping down as Waitrose managing director, while Carl Leaver is to become director of international business after previously working as chief executive of hotels group De Vere.Guy Farrant, the present head of M&S food, is being moved to a retail operations position to broaden his business experience, while Anthony Thompson, head of retail operations, will leave the company.
M&S said the changes positioned it for the next phase of its growth, following its dramatic recovery overseen by chief executive Stuart Rose.
However, the changes will also be seen as part of plans by Rose to identify and groom his successor. Rose, who removed much of the senior management soon after he took up his role in 2004, does not have any obvious internal candidate to take over the helm.
He pledged at the time of his appointment in 2004 that he would stay with M&S for at least five years, although Rose has never commented on when he might step down.
