Marks & Spencer’s chief digital and technology officer Rachel Higham is stepping down from the role, just over a year after joining the retailer.
M&S operations director Sacha Berendji will take on responsibility for digital and technology.
Higham is said to have decided to take a career break. Her departure is unrelated to the cyberattack on the retailer earlier this year.
She joined M&S in June last year to accelerate its pace of change in digital and technology .
Thinus Keeve, who joined M&S as retail director in June this year, will move to reporting to M&S CEO Stuart Machin instead of Berendji.
In an internal memo seen by Retail Week, Machin wrote: “Having steered the digital and technology team through a challenging six months, Rachel Higham has decided to take a break and is stepping back from her role.
“Rachel has been a valued part of the leadership team since joining, building a strengthened digital and technology function, playing a key role over recent months, and laying foundations for the future through the Evolution digital and technology strategy.
“Rachel has been a steady hand and calm head at an extraordinary time for the business, and we wish her well for the future.”
He said Berendji had worked “hand in glove” with Higham and the digital and tech team and had “an in-depth understanding of the business, our systems and tech stack”.
Machin added: “Under Sacha’s leadership, I am confident that we will accelerate the digital and technology plan and ensure we are set up to deliver our biggest and best-ever Christmas peak.”
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