Marks & Spencer head of international Carl Leaver has been given further responsibilities at the retailer, placing him as the front-runner to succeed Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive.

Leaver, who joined M&S last year, will now also be responsible for the retailer’s homewares and internet businesses, which between them generate nearly£1 billion of sales a year.

The change was announced internally to staff last week, according to The Times and comes amid speculation that Leaver has been frustrated in his present overseas role.

Rose said that his management team would be given opportunities to develop themselves when he was promoted to the dual role of M&S chief executive and executive chairman in a controversial move.

Other internal candidates for the M&S chief executive position when Rose steps down in 2011 include head of clothing Kate Bostock and finance and operations director Ian Dyson.
John Dixon was head of homewares and M&S Direct until last month, when he became head of food after Steven Esom’s departure following a shock profit warning.

Separately, M&S's shares closed up 4p at 284p on the back of speculation that the Halley family – until recently the largest shareholder in French supermarket giant Carrefour – had been linked with stakebuilding in the group.

Meanwhile, Emma Trayner, the daughter of George Davies, will leave Per Una – the business he sold to M&S four years ago – next week.

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