Sales Slump Leads to Changes at Marks & Spencer

British retailer Marks & Spencer announced changes to its management team after posting its biggest quarterly sales drop in years, Reuters reports. M&S reported a weak first quarter, blamed on the wettest April and June since records began caused womenswear sales to drop. Sales at stores open more than a year fell 2.8 percent in the 13 weeks ended June 30.

The retailer, which sells apparel, footwear and housewares as well as upmarket foods from about 730 U.K.-based stores, says its head of general merchandise Kate Bostock is leaving the company in October. She will be succeeded by John Dixon, a company veteran of 26 years, who has been head of the retailer's food business for the last four years.

Belinda Earl, a former ceo of Debenhams, Jaeger and Aquascutum, has been named style director starting in September. Steve Rowe, currently director of retail, will succeed Dixon as head of food, while former Estee Lauder executive Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne was appointed to the new role of director of strategy implementation.

“This has not been a reaction to markets, this is a planned succession,” ceo Marc Bolland told Reuters.