Marks & Spencer names new digital and international bosses

The retailer has hired Rachel Higham as chief digital and technology officer. She will join Marks & Spencer later this year from marketing and advertising giant WPP, where she is chief information officer. 

Higham has previously held senior digital and technology roles at businesses including BT Group and Vodafone.

She replaces Jeremy Pee, who left M&S last year and is now a non-executive director of Matalan.

M&S has also promoted Mark Lemming to become managing director of its international business.

Lemming is M&S clothing and home supply chain and logistics director at present. He will take up his new role in the next financial year, when incumbent Laura Padfield leaves.

He has been at M&S for two years and before that held various roles at Kingfisher-owned Screwfix, including running its international division.

Marks & Spencer chief executive Stuart Machin said: ”These two new leadership appointments reflect the importance of digital and technology and capital-light international growth to the next phase of our transformation.

“As I set out at our recent capital markets day, we have more to do in both of these areas and so much opportunity. Rachel and Mark are a fantastic addition to the executive team and I am confident that, with their leadership, we will accelerate the pace of change in the business as we reshape M&S for growth.”