Sir Stuart Rose admits he considered taking M&S private

Speaking to The Sun about his five-year tenure, the outgoing chairman said he thought that M&S might have been “better off” following in the footsteps of John Lewis, which is built on a partnership structure where staff have a stake in the business. He added that such a move may have better reflected the values of M&S.

He said: “One of the beauties about John Lewis is that if they decide to invest for three to four years and the profits go a bit flat, so what. They’re in it for the long term.”

But while he admires the department store chain’s structure, he went on to say that comparing it with M&S was like comparing a “sardine with a sperm whale”.

Rose added that he did not want M&S to become like supermarket chains Tesco and Sainsbury’s. He said: “I don’t give a stuff that I haven’t gone out and screwed a supplier today if it means I prostitute the values of the business for tomorrow.”

Hitting back at his critics in the City, Rose said that M&S is criticised because it has become the “NHS of the high street”. That said, he said new chief executive Marc Bolland is inheriting a business in good shape.

Rose will become chairman and is contracted to remain in the role until next March.