London, United Kingdom - July 10, 2012, London, United Kingdom - Marks & Spencer Group plc announces the following changes to its board and senior management team.
Article continues below
John Dixon will be appointed Executive Director General Merchandise from 1st October 2012.
Mr. Dixon joined Marks & Spencer in 1986 and was appointed to the Board in September 2009. He joined as a store management trainee and has worked in a variety of senior roles across the business, including internationally-based retail roles, Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Director of Multi-channel E-commerce and Home.
Mr. Dixon was appointed Director of Food in July 2008 and has been instrumental in driving and improving the Food business.
Belinda Earl will be appointed Style Director from 1st September 2012.
Ms. Earl started her career as a graduate trainee at Harrods. In 1985 she took up a merchandising role at Debenhams progressing through the business to Buying and Merchandising Director for Lingerie, Accessories and Childrenswear, then to Buying and Merchandising Director for Womenswear before being appointed Trading Director in 1997.
Ms. Earl took her seat on the Debenhams board in 1999. In 2000 she became CEO and led the business until 2003. Most recently she was the CEO of Jaeger and Aquascutum stepping down from this role earlier this year.
Steve Rowe, currently Director of Retail, will be appointed Executive Director Food and will join the Board from 1st October 2012.
Mr. Rowe has been with M&S for 23 years and is a proven retailer. He joined Marks & Spencer in 1989 and held a variety of positions in store management, having previously worked at Topshop as a store manager. He joined Head Office in 1992 as a Merchandiser for Menswear, working in all areas of the Group. In 1998 he was promoted to Category Manager in the Furniture Department.
During 2001 he led the team developing the Home Growth Strategy and subsequently became Head of Home categories in 2003. He was promoted to the Director of Home a year later, in 2004. Between 2004 and 2008 he also assumed responsibility for Beauty and New Business Development.
Mr. Rowe was appointed Director of Retail in March 2008, responsible for our UK and Irish GM and Food stores and Franchise food business and became a member of the Management Committee. He is also a Strategic Director of the New West End Company.
Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne will join the company from 1st September 2012 in the new role of Corporate Director of Strategy Implementation and Business Development.