High street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has implemented senior changes to its Clothing, Home & Beauty team.
John Lyttle, formerly CEO of Boohoo Group, will be joining M&S as Managing Director of Clothing, Home & Beauty in a planned succession. John has extensive retail and transformation experience, spending five years at Boohoo and nine years at Primark as COO.
Richard Price, Managing Director of Clothing, Home & Beauty since 2020, will be leaving M&S to pursue a portfolio career following a handover period.
Maddy Evans, currently Director of Womenswear, will take on a broader role including Lingerie, becoming Director of M&S Woman. Charlotte Davies, our Director of Lingerie who recently joined from Hunkemöller where she was Chief Product Officer, will report into Maddy.
David Brittain, a former furniture buyer at John Lewis, will be joining M&S as Director of Home & Beauty at the end of April from Amazon where he is currently Business Development Director, Amazon Fashion, Europe. Heidi Woodhouse will be leaving M&S after a handover period with David, and we thank her for her contribution.
Stuart Machin, CEO, said: “Thanks to Richard’s leadership, the Clothing, Home & Beauty business is now on a much stronger footing with improved product. Style perceptions have increased consistently and our lead on quality and value has extended, driving growth in sales and market share. Richard leaves the business as a long-standing friend of M&S and we wish him the very best.
“That said, there remains much to do and so much opportunity in this next phase of our plan to reshape M&S for future growth. Changes underway to embed strategic sourcing partnerships, a modern planning platform and an efficient logistics network are nascent and there is lots to do to develop a truly omnichannel Clothing, Home & Beauty business.
“I’m delighted to welcome John to M&S. He brings extensive experience in driving strong volume-based growth and supply chain transformation across store-based and pureplay retailers. His down-to-earth leadership style fits with our sleeves rolled up, ‘tell it as it is’ culture, and I know he will be a brilliant colleague to work with.
“John will be supported by a strong leadership team. Maddy Evans is transforming our Womenswear proposition and I am delighted to broaden her remit to include our trusted heartland of Lingerie. Bringing all of our Womenswear categories together will further improve our customer proposition and style credentials, and this change builds on the progress Charlotte Davies has already started to make.
“David Brittain is a great addition to the leadership team with a strong track record across Fashion, Home & Beauty in stores and online.
“I am confident that this team will bring the fresh perspective, energy and drive required to up the pace and scale of change in this next phase of transformation across M&S’s Clothing, Home & Beauty business.”
Richard Price commented: “I am proud to have helped rebuild the M&S Clothing, Home & Beauty business and led a team which has transformed product, grown sales and market share and, most importantly, confidence. I feel now is the right time for me to step away from full-time executive life and I am pleased to be handing the baton to John.”
John Lyttle commented: “M&S is somewhere I have always wanted to work, and it is a real privilege to join the Clothing, Home & Beauty business at a time when there is both so much momentum and opportunity. I can’t wait to get started.”
