Marks & Spencer has unveiled a raft of management changes at its clothing business as part of chief executive Marc Bolland’s new strategy, Retail Week can reveal.

Veteran womenswear trading director Bernadette Lusher will leave Marks & Spencer as a result of the changes, designed to create a structure that will better enable delivery of Bolland’s plans.

Andrew Skinner, formerly director of Per Una, becomes general merchandise merchandising director.

Scott Fyfe will take up the role of trading director, womenswear merchandising and planning, and his responsibilities will include Per Una.

Annette Browne becomes trading director of womenswear product direction and design, also including Per Una.

All will report to general merchandise supremo Kate Bostock. Fyfe and Browne will also report to Skinner on merchandising key performance indicators. Other existing trading directors are not affected by the restructure.

The new approach is expected to cut duplication of both management responsibility and product that previously existed and allow greater focus on stock management and planning.

An M&S spokeswoman said: “As Marc said in November, structure follows strategy. We’ve made changes to our general merchandise leadership team to ensure we have the right structure in place to deliver our business plan.

“The changes allow us to place greater focus on merchandising and eliminate duplication in womenswear and Per Una.”

She said: “Bernadette leaves with our thanks for the significant contribution she has made and our best wishes for the future.”

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