Our Leadership

Thinus Keeve

Retail Director

Thinus Keeve joined Marks & Spencer in June 2025. He serves as Retail Director, with accountability for the end-to-end performance of the store estate and executive oversight of ESG across the business.

He is a seasoned retail and commercial executive with over 20 years of global experience across FMCG, banking, and large-scale retail. He began his career at United Overseas Bank in Singapore and then SABMiller in South Africa, where he built a strong foundation in finance, marketing, and global supply chain.

At Coles Group, one of Australia’s largest retailers, Thinus held senior leadership roles spanning operations, commercial strategy, property, and sustainability. He also served as CEO and Managing Director of BWX Ltd, a publicly listed health and beauty company. Known for disciplined execution, inclusive leadership, and delivering transformation at scale, Thinus has launched new business ventures and led major turnarounds.

He holds three master’s degrees and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program.

Fiona Dawson, CBE

Senior Independent Director

Fiona joined the M&S Board on 25 May 2021. She is also a Non-Executive Director of Reckitt where she is Chair of the Remuneration Committee, Kerry Group plc where she chairs the Sustainability Committee and is a member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees, and sits on the Board of LEGO. Fiona was previously Global President Food, Drinks and Multisales at Mars, Inc. sitting on the Global Leadership Team. Fiona rose from the Graduate Trainee scheme on to roles including President of Global Retail and Mars Chocolate UK and European Marketing Vice President where she made an enduring impact in her three decades at the business.

In May 2021, Fiona was awarded a CBE for services to women and the economy. She is President of the Chartered Management Institute and a Trustee with the Social Mobility Foundation. She was previously Chair of the Women’s Business Council, President of the Institute of Grocery Distribution and Vice President of the Food and Drink Federation.

Fiona is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Nomination Committee. Fiona was appointed as Senior Independent Director in September 2024.

Cheryl Potter

Non-Executive Director

Cheryl joined the M&S Board on 1 March 2023. As the former head of the global consumer team at private equity firm, Permira, Cheryl brings a strong shareholder value focus to the Board, as well as a wealth of leadership experience.

During Cheryl’s 20-year career at Permira she built a highly successful track record as an investor and steward of portfolio companies, working with management teams to build better businesses. Cheryl also previously Chaired the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA).

As well as leading the global consumer practice, she has previously held Non-Executive Director positions on the boards of scale retail and consumer facing brands, including Dr Martens, Allegro, Homebase and Birds Eye. Cheryl currently serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of German online clothing retail company, Best Secret, and has done since April 2017.

Cheryl has also been a passionate advocate for women in leadership, as both a founding Patron of The Prince’s Trust Women Supporting Women scheme and as the recent Chair of Level 20, a not-for-profit organisation focused on getting more women into senior investing roles in the Private Equity industry.

Cheryl is a member of the Nomination and ESG Committees.

Evelyn Bourke

Non-Executive Director

Evelyn was appointed in February 2021. She retired from her role as CEO of Bupa Group at the end of December 2020. Evelyn led transformative change during her near 5-year tenure as CEO of Bupa, putting the customer at the heart of the organisation, investing in people and technology and strengthening the business. She has extensive experience in financial services having spent three and a half years as Bupa's CFO and in leadership roles at Standard Life and Friends Provident. Evelyn is also a non-executive director of St James’s Place plc and member of their Audit and Remuneration Committees, and non-executive director of Admiral plc where she is a member of their Audit Committee. In July 2024 she became Chair of the UK board of GenesisCare and a Non-Executive Director of GenesisCare Cayman. Evelyn was previously a non-executive director of Bank of Ireland and of AJ Bell plc.

Evelyn is Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee.
 

Sapna Sood

Non-Executive Director

Sapna was appointed in June 2020. Sapna joined The Adecco Group in June 2021 and as of May 2023, has been appointed as President, Adecco APAC. She was also a senior executive at Compass Group, as the Group Director for International Clients and Market Development business until 2021 and a Non-Executive Director at Kering from 2016 to 2020. In her previous career she held leading operational roles in the building materials and industrial gas sectors in Europe and Asia-Pacific, latterly as CEO and President of LafargeHolcim in the Philippines. Sapna has in-depth knowledge of running complex supply chains, including in food and clothing, as well as experience of leading large transformation programmes. She has driven a step-change in diversity in all of her teams and is passionate about sustainability; having chaired Kering's Sustainability Committee. Sapna is also an Advisory Board member of Imperial College Business School.

Sapna is a member of the Nomination Committee and ESG Committee.

Tamara Ingram, OBE

Non-Executive Director

Tamara joined the Board in June 2020. Tamara has a longstanding leadership career in advertising, marketing and digital communications, having held leadership roles at WPP since 2002, including being Non-Executive Chair of Wunderman Thompson, CEO of J Walter Thompson and CEO of 3 Kantar companies. Prior to this, Tamara worked at Saatchi and Saatchi where she held the roles of CEO and Chair. She has a deep understanding of the customer and has led renowned marketing campaigns for household brands around the world. Tamara has also delivered cultural and business transformation at pace within her own businesses as well as on behalf of clients. She is currently a Non-Executive Director for Marsh McLennan and Intertek Group. In February 2023, she was appointed as a Non-Executive Director at Reckitt Benckiser Group plc and in December 2024, Tamara was appointed as Deputy Chair of Ofcom.

Tamara is Chair of the ESG Committee and a member of the Nomination and Remuneration Committees.

Sean Doyle

Non-Executive Director

Sean joined the Board on 1 December 2025. He is currently Chief Executive and Chairman of British Airways, where he also sits on the management committee of British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group. Sean first joined British Airways in 1998, where he began his career as a financial analyst. During his time at British Airways, Sean has held a number of senior roles in London and the US, and in 2016 was appointed to the airline’s executive leadership team as Director of Network, Fleet & Alliances. From January 2019, prior to his appointment as Chief Executive of British Airways in October 2020, Sean was Chief Executive of Aer Lingus.

Sean sits on the leadership council of Business In The Community (BITC), and on the Government’s Aviation Futures Forum. He also serves as Vice Chair of BritishAmerican Business (BAB) and is a director of The Ireland Fund of Great Britain.

Sean is a member of the Nomination and Audit & Risk Committees.

Roger Burnley, CBE

Non-Executive Director

Roger joined the Board on 1 December 2025. He is an experienced retailer who spent ten years as an executive director of Sainsbury’s before joining Asda as its Chief Operating Officer in 2016, becoming its CEO in 2017. He left Asda in August 2021 after four years as CEO and was appointed CBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for services to the food supply chain. Between 2022 and 2025, Roger was non-executive chair of Finnebrogue Artisan, one of the UK’s leading food producers, and also chair of Plate-up Limited. Roger currently is an advisor with Accenture and has been a non-executive director of Pets at Home Group plc since 2023, where he is also chair of the remuneration committee.

Roger is a member of the Nomination and Audit & Risk Committees.