Marks & Spencer appoints new food marketing director

Marks & Spencer has appointed Andrew Hicks to the role. He joins from leading Australian retailer Woolworths Group, and has previously worked alongside M&S Food managing director Alex Freudmann – to whom he will report.

Hicks, who will start at M&S in September, was Woolworths’ chief marketing officer for seven years and brings two decades of experience including in South Africa.

M&S said: “Andrew’s experience and insight complements the food leadership team’s high performance culture and will further drive M&S to deliver against its ambition to be a shopping list retailer, while maintaining quality and value perceptions and remaining number one for trust.”

His recruitment came as M&S makes a variety of people changes to push ahead with a transformation programme overseen by chief executive Stuart Machin.

At the food division, Hicks succeeds Sharry Cramond who is now leading marketing for M&S’ fashion, home and beauty business where former Boohoo boss John Lyttle has recently taken over as managing director.

Other new members of Lyttle’s team include James Mugford, who is leading M&S’ beauty business and David James, who is spearheading supply chain.

Early next month Kevin Bennett, who has held a pivotal supply chain role at the fashion, home and beauty business will become M&S Food logistics director and chief executive of Gist, the logistics provider which M&S acquired in 2022.