... off you go, says Rose

The departure of Radice, director of home, clothing and store development, had been widely expected. Furniture pilot Lifestore - nicknamed Deathstore because of its poor performance - was his brainchild. It is now under review. Radice was also regarded as being out of touch with M&S’s core customers.

Rose described Radice as: ‘A square peg in a round hole… there wasn’t a meeting of minds between myself and him.’

Rose has shifted executive director Maurice Helfgott’s responsibility from food to menswear, childrenswear and home.

Guy Farrant will run food on an interim basis until a new boss is found.

Former Safeway trading director Jack Sinclair, Waitrose selling and marketing director Mark Price and ex-Sainsbury’s managing director Stuart Mitchell could all be in the frame.

M&S also aims to ‘re-establish the balance between executive and non-executive directors’. Brian Baldock and Stella Rimington are likely to be the first departures, having been non-execs for more than six years. Baldock will, however, stand as senior non-exec as part of ‘successional arrangements’.

Rose also expanded the roles of Charles Wilson and Steven Sharp, who joined him at M&S last week.

Wilson will be responsible for property, IT and supply chain, and collaborate with Rose on strategy. Sharp will be responsible for marketing, store development and design.