Marks & Spencer has significantly shaken-up the management of its home department, including the departure of its top two executives.
Heidi Woodhouse, Marks Spencer director – home, furniture and beauty is to leave the chain after four and half years. ‘We thank her for her contribution,’ say the chain.
Here role is being split, with David Brittain, Amazon, fashion business development director, Europe will become director of home & beauty at the end of April.
Richard Price, md of clothing, home & beauty since 2020, will leave to pursue a portfolio career following a handover period.
John Lyttle, formerly Boohoo ceo and Primark coo will succeed him.
‘I am proud to have helped rebuild the M&S clothing, home & beauty business and led a team which has transformed product, grown sales and market share and, most importantly, confidence. I feel now is the right time for me to step away from full-time executive life and I am pleased to be handing the baton to John,’ says Price.
‘M&S is somewhere I have always wanted to work, and it is a real privilege to join the clothing, home & beauty business at a time when there is both so much momentum and opportunity. I can’t wait to get started,’ says Lyttle.
‘Thanks to Richard’s leadership, the clothing, home & beauty business is now on a much stronger footing with improved product. Richard leaves the business as a long-standing friend of M&S and we wish him the very best. That said, there remains much to do and so much opportunity in this next phase of our plan to reshape M&S for future growth. Changes underway to embed strategic sourcing partnerships, a modern planning platform and an efficient logistics network are nascent and there is lots to do to develop a truly omnichannel clothing, home & beauty business,’ says Stuart Machin, M&S ceo.
