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Clothing boss quits M&S

Marks and Spencer's head of clothing has quit the retailer to assume a senior role elsewhere
July 21, 2015

Only a couple of weeks since high street stalwart Marks and Spencer (MKS) released first-quarter figures, it's clothing and other non-food businesses head, John Dixon, has quit. Mr Dixon resigned after spending 29 years with the chain, following rumoured clashes with senior management over how to boost flagging profits.

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Last week Marks and Spencer revealed its underlying clothing sales slipped back into decline in the three months to the end of June, despite growing for the first time in four years in the final quarter of last year.

On the flip side, food sales did well during the first quarter, up 3.2 per cent or 0.3 per cent on a like-for-like basis. Steve Rowe, head of M&S food, has been credited for much of that performance, thus making him the stand out candidate to replace Mr Dixon. Trading director for food Andy Adcock will become head of the food division on an interim basis.

This might, however, be a case of history repeating itself. After turning round the food arm, which had become too expensive, Mr Dixon was promoted to the head of M&S's clothing and home furnishings business in July 2012.