Former Debenhams executive Sarah Savva has joined UK retailer Marks & Spencer as its new business lead of brands following plans outlined by the company in May to bring in third-party clothing labels.
Savva joins M&S after a six-month stint with value retailer Primark where she served as project manager of new business development.
Prior to that, she worked as a freelance retail consultant after 29 years with Debenhams where she most recently served as the company’s director of external business.
Savva’s appointment at M&S comes two months after the retailer said it is to accelerate a number of changes within the business after taking a 75% sales hit on clothing sales during the coronavirus lockdown – with plans to bring in third-party clothing brands, and introduce a faster, ‘near-sourcing’ supply chain.
In its full-year trading update, the UK fashion, food and homeware retailer outlined over GBP1bn of actions, including GBP500m of cost reductions and other actions to manage cash, in addition to drawing up a ‘never the same again’ agenda to accelerate transformation and invest further in digital.
Among the plans is a bid to add around 1,600 core clothing and home lines to the Ocado online platform – in which it bought a 50% stake last year for GBP750m – with an autumn range expected in September of around 850 lines. In addition, guest brands will be introduced online and in larger stores in a bid to broaden appeal and grow online sales.
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By GlobalDataChanges will also be made in the supply chain as M&S accelerates its move to ‘trusted value’ in clothing and home, and option count reduction and supplier concentration.
In a statement shared with just-style on Savva’s appointment, M&S clothing and home transformation director Neil Harrison said: “At our full-year results we shared that we’re in negotiations with a number of brands to enhance M&S and the relevance of our product offer for our customers.
“We’re delighted that Sarah has joined us, bringing her extensive commercial experience to help ensure we have complementary brands and where we have categories with leadership position we maintain that with added brands that create a full offer.”
