Marks & Spencer has made changes to its clothing and home leadership team as it pushes to further improve performance and sourcing gurus the Lindsey brothers stand down.
M&S has promoted Monique Leeuwenburgh to become director of sourcing. As well as picking up the sourcing optimisation baton from the Lindseys, she will have a wider remit incorporating technical and Plan A sustainability responsibilities.
The retailer has also appointed former Dixons commercial strategy director and Debenhams commercial transformation director Dani Williams as director of commercial operations, clothing and home.
Stephen Fitzgerald, commercial and operations director, is leaving M&S.
M&S clothing and home managing director Richard Price informed staff of the appointments today.
He said of Leeuwenburgh’s promotion: “Optimising our sourcing model by working with fewer but deeper supplier partners is critical to improving our value credentials and speed to market while protecting our margin.
“Getting this right is what powers the product engine and we have made really good progress on this over the past few years under the leadership of Mark and Neal Lindsey. Mark and Neal have decided to take very well-deserved retirement at the end of March and they leave us with strong foundations from which to move forward.
“In a world of increasingly environmentally aware consumers – and where we have a real opportunity to play to our strength for wearable, made-to-last style – bringing sourcing, technical and Plan A together makes complete sense.
“Since arriving in 2019 from Nike, Monique has made a huge difference in clothing and home, driving efficiencies in processes and ways of working, streamlining materials and driving improved margin and quality perceptions.”
He said of Williams’ appointment: “Ensuring we trade as effectively and efficiently as possible is critical to offering the everyday low prices that we know our customers want while protecting our margin and reputation for quality.
“This has been a huge area of focus for us and we have made tangible improvements… To build on the improvements made and ensure we trade effectively as a truly omnichannel business, I’m pleased to welcome Dani Williams into the business. Dani brings fantastic experience of commercial and category transformation.”
The Lindsey brothers, who previously worked for Next and have worked for M&S since 2014, are widely credited with improving the retailer’s sourcing and margins.
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