Tesco chief information officer for internet retailing Carl Dawson is to join Marks & Spencer as IT director.

Dawson replaces Darrell Stein in the role at M&S and will report to the chief finance officer. The finance position is being filled on an interim basis by Paul Friston, former director of financial control, following M&S finance boss Alan Stewart’s surprise move to Tesco where chief executive Phil Clarke has been replaced by Unilever man Dave Lewis.

In an internal announcement, M&S chief executive Marc Bolland said: “Carl has a wealth of IT experience from the retail industry and joins us from Tesco. Prior to this, Carl has held chief information officer positions at both Shop Direct and Thomas Cook. His start date will be announced in due course.”

Until Dawson joins, Clifford Cohen, at present M&S’s head of business solutions at M&S.com, will be interim director in the tech role. 

Bolland said: “Clifford has extensive M&S experience and played a critical role in the successful launch of the new M&S.com platform.”

M&S is in the midst of technological and digital change as it overhauls its systems to adapt for the shift to ecommerce and the resulting demands on distribution, ordering and fulfilment systems.

M&S is refocusing as part of its efforts to become an international multichannel business.