M&S seeks new fashion unit head as CEO focuses on turnaround plans

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 3, 2017

UK retail giant Marks & Spencer has appointed a headhunting firm to find a new head of its clothing operations, according to reports.

The news follows former clothing chief Steve Rowe’s elevation to the CEO role last year. He has retained oversight of the clothing unit until now intends to focus more on planning the retailer’s turnaround in the months ahead.

Reports said JCA Group has been asked to find someone to spearhead the clothing unit. M&S has struggled to find growth for its clothing operations is recent year and last year announced a radical refocus on its core customer and away from excessively trend-led lines. It is also closing some stores that offer clothing and shifting to a greater focus on its more successful food operations.

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But M&S remains one of the largest fashion product retailers in Britain and the new clothing chief will have a major turnaround task on his or her hands that will be conducted in the full glare of publicity.  

Analysts said the role would only go to someone already operating at a very senior level and who is likely to have had experience at M&S in the past. Fat Face CEO Anthony Thompson, former Mothercare boss Mark Newton-Jones and ex-Next director Christos Angelides have been suggested, Thisismoney reported.