Marks & Spencer’s (MKS) managing director of clothing and home Jill McDonald has left her post after less than two years, after the floundering high street retailer noted the impact of supply problems and an ill-conceived clothing range in its most recent results.
Chief executive Steve Rowe, who ran the division before Ms McDonald’s arrival in October 2017, will resume control of the segment. In May, M&S disclosed that clothing and home revenues had fallen by 3.6 per cent owing to store closures during the year to March, with like-for-like revenue down 1.6 per cent. Encouraging progress in the third quarter was muted by weak availability in fourth, as the retailer “sold out of fast selling lines and experienced supply issues”. The division accounted for 34 per cent of group revenues.
Mr Rowe said: "Jill was brought in to establish a strong platform for the transformation of the clothing and home business...She has recruited a talented team, improved the quality and style of product and set a clear direction for the business to attract a younger family age customer.”
“The business now needs to move on at pace to address long-standing issues in our clothing and home supply chain around availability and flow of product,” the chief executive added.
