UK clothing, home and food retailer Marks & Spencer has appointed Belinda Earl as head of its womenswear and beauty departments until it finds a permanent hire for the role.

Style director Earl takes over from Jo Jenkins, who resigned in late October to join fashion lifestyle brand White Stuff as chief executive officer. Meanwhile, head of lingerie Laura Charles will take on responsibility for M&S’s lingerie department.

The additional responsibilities od both Charles and Earl are with immediate effect and they will report to clothing, home and beauty director Jill McDonald.

Currently part-time, Earl has been the retailer’s style director since September 2012. Prior to joining M&S she held roles including chief executive of Jaeger, and trading director, then chief executive, of Debenhams.

The reshuffle is the latest in a raft of announcements for M&S since retail veteran Archie Norman joined as chairman in November, when the retailer unveiled its half-year report and re-set chief executive Steve Rowe’s turnaround strategy.

Last week, the company said it could be cutting around 380 jobs in the UK as it moves to adopt a single-tier distribution network for its clothing and home division with the opening of a new distribution centre.

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M&S could cut 380 jobs with new clothing DC

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