As high street giant Marks & Spencer announce a substantial 6.8 per cent drop in non-food sales for the 13 weeks to June 30, with clothing sales - especially womenswear - most affected, chief executive, Marc Bolland, has this morning announced that Kate Bostock, the executive director of General Merchandise, will be leaving by mutual consent to pursue other interests. She will step down from the board and leave M&S on October 1.
Her role will be taken up by John Dixon, an M&S veteran who is currently Executive Director of Food. He is widely seen as a "safe pair of hands" who has helped pioneer the hugely successful Dine-in-for-£10. Steve Rowe, currently Director of Retail, will replace him as head of Food.
Belinda Earl, the former chief executive of Debenhams, Aquascutum and Jaeger (from where she stepped down in March 20 12 due to health reasons), will join the retailer as Style Director from September 1 in a newly-created part-time role.
"Belinda ... has a unique insight into British style and a wealth of experience across all categories of clothing and general merchandise," the company said in a statement.
M&S has also appointed Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne in the new role of Corporate Director of Strategy Implementation and Business Development. The former Group President at The Estée Lauder Companies has been advising M&S on its new M&S YourBeauty concept.
The figures will increase pressure on Marc Bolland, the chief executive of M&S, who has now been at the company for just over two years. Despite various initiatives he appears to have struggled to arrest a slow reduction in the share of the womenswear market.
Outsiders say that the ranges of clothes have failed to capture the imagination of consumers with small disposable income. At the end of June it was revealed that rival fashion chain Next had overtaken M&S for the first time.
Via: Kate Bostock out, Belinda Earl in at M&S
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