Marks & Spencer’s newly appointed stores boss has turned his back on the role before his first day, Retail Week can reveal.
David Lepley, at present Morrisons’ operations director, is to remain with the grocer and will not join Marks & Spencer as stores director – an appointment disclosed only last month.
M&S is already talking to other candidates for the post, which is seen as key in ensuring the ‘voice of the stores’ is heard as the retailer pushes on with a turnaround programme spearheaded by chief executive Steve Rowe.
Lepley has been offered a “bigger” role at Morrisons, a person familiar with the situation told Retail Week.
An M&S spokesperson confirmed that Lepley would not join and said: “We wish him the best of luck.”
Lepley, a former vice-president of Asda’s online grocery business and project manager for ex-Asda chief executive Andy Clarke, would have reported to M&S retail, operations and property director Sacha Berendji.
Berendji said when the hire was revealed: “David brings years of trading experience and crucially great leadership skills. We’ve spoken already about how we’re bringing back the voice of the stores and freeing up our managers to trade and serve customers – David will play a big role in empowering this change.”
Berendji’s team has, like others at M&S, been reshaped to support the turnaround progamme and retail and property functions have been brought together. In June, for instance, Andrew Turton joined as director of asset management.
No comment was immediately available from Morrisons about Lepley’s new role.
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