As part of ongoing efforts to transform its business, UK retail group Marks & Spencer has named a new leadership team tasked with overhauling the firm’s clothing and home operations – including the creation of new role to oversee the newly merged womenswear and kidswear teams.
In an announcement today (26 March), M&S named former Old Navy executive vice president Jill Stanton as womenswear and kidswear director. Having also acted as interim president at the Gap Inc-owned brand, Stanton has previously delivered “radical change programmes” at companies including Next, Dewhirst and Nike where she had global responsibility for clothing. She will join M&S in July.
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The retailer has also appointed former Arcadia executive Wes Taylor as menswear director.
Taylor, who has more than 30 years of experience in fashion retailing, having progressed through Arcadia to lead the Burton business as managing director for 11 years, will join the company in May.
Meanwhile, Laura Charles and Neil Harrison have been promoted internally to work alongside both Stanton and Taylor. Charles has been appointed to the newly created position of lingerie director, while Harrison, who is currently driving the strategy for growth as home director, will also pick up additional responsibility for beauty.
“M&S Clothing is transforming. We’re crystal clear on the challenge. We must become more relevant to more people offering the right products at the right prices to appeal to our core customers and attract new ones,” says Jill McDonald, managing director of clothing and home.
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By GlobalData“Jill and Wes are highly impressive retailers with strong track records of success at other high-profile brands and will bring this invaluable experience to M&S. We now have the right leadership team in place to get on and deliver change.”
M&S has also announced that Michael Kerr, who is currently menswear and kidswear director, has decided to leave the company after 35 years. In addition, Queralt Ferrer, womenswear and lingerie design director, is also leaving the firm. As a result, responsibility for design will be integrated into the business units.
In a final twist, Belinda Earl, who has been covering womenswear since January, is stepping away from her commercial role with the retailer, but will continue to work in an advisory capacity and sit on the board of the M&S Archive. She will hand over her womenswear responsibilities to Jill Stanton over the summer.
“Belinda has made a huge contribution to M&S. She’s a great friend to the brand and we are delighted to retain her support and input,” adds McDonald.
Earlier this month, analysts said Marks & Spencer is only just beginning its marathon of transforming its operations, but while there may still be fires to put out, plans to adapt the UK retailer’s clothing offer to appeal to a broader, younger consumer base could certainly help.
M&S only just beginning marathon transformation
