LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Marks & Spencer, Britain's biggest clothing retailer, has named Alan Stewart, the finance director who helped turn round stationer WH Smith, as its new finance chief.
Stewart, 50, is currently finance director of aircraft leasing company AWAS and worked at WH Smith from 2005-8, helping to implement the recovery plan of Chief Executive Kate Swann.
He will join Marks & Spencer (M&S) at the end of October, the firm said on Tuesday.
Stewart will work alongside new Chief Executive Marc Bolland, who joined in May and plans to outline his long-term strategy for the 126-year-old business in November.
'Alan has an impressive track record and will be joining us with extensive experience of retail and other highly competitive industries including travel and banking,' Bolland said.
Stewart, who also spent seven years at leisure group Thomas Cook and, before that, nine years as an investment banker at HSBC, replaces Ian Dyson, who missed out on the top job and is leaving to be chief executive of pubs group Punch.
At 0745 GMT, Marks & Spencer (M&S) shares were down 0.7 percent at 356.6 pence.
(Editing by Simon Jessop) Keywords: MARKS&SPENCER/ (mark.r.potter@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 2943; Reuters Messaging: mark.potter.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Stewart, 50, is currently finance director of aircraft leasing company AWAS and worked at WH Smith from 2005-8, helping to implement the recovery plan of Chief Executive Kate Swann.
He will join Marks & Spencer (M&S) at the end of October, the firm said on Tuesday.
Stewart will work alongside new Chief Executive Marc Bolland, who joined in May and plans to outline his long-term strategy for the 126-year-old business in November.
'Alan has an impressive track record and will be joining us with extensive experience of retail and other highly competitive industries including travel and banking,' Bolland said.
Stewart, who also spent seven years at leisure group Thomas Cook and, before that, nine years as an investment banker at HSBC, replaces Ian Dyson, who missed out on the top job and is leaving to be chief executive of pubs group Punch.
At 0745 GMT, Marks & Spencer (M&S) shares were down 0.7 percent at 356.6 pence.
(Editing by Simon Jessop) Keywords: MARKS&SPENCER/ (mark.r.potter@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 2943; Reuters Messaging: mark.potter.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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