Marks & Spencer faces another womenswear departure

By

Olivier Guyot

Published
Oct 21, 2013

In May 2013 – just six months after the arrival of Frances Russel as director of womenswear - Marks & Spencer saw the departure of director of lingerie and beauty Janie Schaffer and buying heads Sara Bradley and Mary Wastnage, raising questions about the British retailer’s new strategy.

As experts reduce forecasts for clothing sales for the three months to the end of September, the retailer is hit with another departure. Gillian Ridley Whittle has announced that she will be leaving the company for a position at Australian department store chain, Target.

Appointed as development and buying director in May, Ridley Whittle joined the company in 2004 where she started buying for lingerie and beauty before moving over to womenswear.