M&S has said Will Smith will take charge of its estate, as Retail Week earlier revealed that Helen Milford will also join the bellwether retailer from Sainsbury’s Argos, where she is director of retail.

Like Milford, he will report to M&S retail, operations and property supremo Sacha Berendji. At Asda, Smith was vice-president of real estate, facilities and market development. Before that, he was managing director of Netto, which Asda acquired.