Marks & Spencer (London) has named Archie Norman its new chairman, according to Reuters. Norman is a 63 year retail industry veteran who is known for helping to revamp food retailer Asda (Leeds, U.K.) when he joined the retailer as ceo in 1991. He is also known for helping to build Kingfisher (City of Westminster, U.K.) in the 1980s.
The retailer’s shares rose 6 percent after the announcement. Norman will become non-executive chairman on Sept. 1 and succeeds Robert Swannell, who has worked for Marks & Spencer for six years.