The new chief executive of M&S, Steve Rowe, has announced changes to the top level management of the company, halving the number of directors involved in decision making at strategic level barely a month into his tenure.

Those leaving include head of kidswear and home director, Stephanie Chen; store environment and product presentation director Florence De Boosere; and M&S's digital director, David Walmsley.

In a statement, the company said that the changes would “simplify its management structure in order to drive speedier decision making and move the business closer to its customers.”

Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne is now executive director of customer, marketing & M&S.com, and assumes new responsibilities for M&S.com and the retailer’s Plan A. corporate responsibility programme. Consequently, the international business now reports to the CEO, Steve Rowe.
Meanwhike, Helen Weir, CFO, has had responsibility for strategy implementation added to her remit.

Laura Wade-Gery will be on maternity leave until September but the company said that it would update on her responsibilities on her return.

In addition, M&S is also establishing a new operating committee that will be accountable for the day-to-day running of the business as well as for the development and execution of strategy.
Forming the committee, the executive directors will be joined by the directors of food (Andy Adcock); womenswear lingerie & beauty (Jo Jenkins); retail (Sacha Berendji); international (Paul Friston); communications & investor relations (Dominic Fry); HR (Simmone Haywood); and the group secretary & head of corporate governance (Amanda Mellor).

Mr Rowe, commented: "On my first day as CEO, I committed to putting M&S customers at the heart of everything we do. These changes reflect this; a simpler management structure with a smaller, more focused team running M&S will lead to more efficient decision-making and move us closer to our customers.

"The new operating committee will be working together to improve M&S, starting with fixing our clothing & home offer for our customers, our employees and our shareholders."

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