Marks & Spencer has appointed Carole Boyes-Weston as head of design for its Per Una and Limited Collection womenswear brands.

She replaces Helen Low, who is understood to be moving to a role at supermarket fashion business George at Asda.

Boyes-Weston joins Marks & Spencer from High Fashion UK, and has in the past worked for clohting specialists including Dewhirst and Next.

Although the personnel change comes as Marks & Spencer prepares to reshuffle its senior buying team in the autumn, when general merchandise executive director Kate Bostock will leave and be replaced by food boss John Dixon and former Jaeger chief executive Belinda Earl, it is not thought to be related to the wider swithces in responsibility.

A Marks & Spencer spokeswoman said: “We’re delighted to confirm that Carole Boyes-Weston will be joining Marks & Spencer with immediate effect as Head of Design for per una and Limited Collection. Carole has a wealth of design experience and it’s a pleasure to welcome her to the team.”

Last week Marks & Spencer reported a 6.8% decline in sales of general merchnadise, mainly clothing, during its first quarter.