Marks & Spencer’s food business names four new directors

FOUR new directors, including one of South Asian origin, have been appointed to effect a turnaround strategy at Marks & Spencer’s food business.

Asian origin Pav Anand, Tesco’s strategy director, will lead the food strategy and special products at the London-based company.

Lisa Raschia, Sainsbury’s head of technical, will join as head of produce and horticulture.

M&S food will get David Stokes, supply chain director at Danish Crown, as its head of sourcing, whereas Laurissa Kuligowski from PWC will join the British multinational business as its commercial strategy and operations manager.

Earlier this year, the company announced a £750 million venture with Ocado, under which the company aims to launch online deliveries from September next year.

In its latest communication with investors and other stakeholders, M&S said that changes in its food unit were focused on its objective to “protect the magic and modernise the rest”.

The company last week in a communication delivered to investors admitted that “M&S was in a circle of decline for many years ”.

Stuart Machin, managing director, is understood to be focusing the food division’s turnaround on customers’ perceptions on price, raising volumes, and modernising its supply chain and product ranges.