Marks & Spencer today announces that Kirsty Ward has been appointed to the new role of Director of M&S Bank and Services.
Previously Vice President of Financial Services at Walmart, Kirsty will join M&S on the 19th November and be responsible for M&S Bank and M&S Energy.
She will report to Strategy Director, Mel Smith, and will drive innovation, growth and the digital development of both brands, working closely with M&S’ partners HSBC (M&S Bank) and Octopus (M&S Energy).
Kirsty’s appointment is part of the transformation of M&S’ operational and leadership team, putting a greater focus and accountability on the growing M&S Bank and M&S Energy businesses. Earlier this year M&S launched its first ever mortgage range and announced a new digital, fair priced energy proposition for customers with Octopus.
Prior to her US role at Walmart, Kirsty was Senior Director for Asda Money, Banking and Mobile and has previously worked for M&S Bank (then M&S Money) where she was Head of Product Management.
Mel Smith, M&S Strategy Director, said: “M&S Bank and M&S Energy are great opportunities for us to reach more customers with the trusted M&S brand and Kirsty’s appointment will give us greater focus on growing these important parts of our business.”
Kirsty Ward said: “It’s a great opportunity to return to M&S Bank. There is huge potential for the brand to become more relevant, more often to our existing customers and appeal to new customers. I’m excited to be part of the M&S family again at such an important time in the business’s transformation.”
M&S Bank operates as a joint venture arrangement* between HSBC and Marks & Spencer and provides trusted services, including current and savings accounts, cards, insurance, mortgages and travel money. M&S and Octopus announced a new strategic partnership to supply energy and services under the M&S Energy brand from September 2018.
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For further information, please contact:
M&S Corporate Press Office - 0208 718 1919
Notes to Editors:
* M&S Bank has its own banking licence and its own Board.
Making M&S Special
In November 2017 Marks & Spencer set out a transformation programme for the business concentrating on Restoring the Basics, Shaping the Future and Making M&S Special.
Under this transformation programme, Making M&S Special, M&S has to date announced:
- A slowdown in the Simply Food store opening programme
- An acceleration of the UK store estate closure programme
- The sale and franchise of its retail business in Hong Kong and Macau
- A new Technology Transformation Programme
- Improvements to its Clothing & Home Logistics Network
- The restructure of the Customer, Marketing & Digital Team
- New customer insight partnership with Starcount
- The appointment of a new Food Managing Director
- The merging of its Retail & Property functions
- A New leadership team responsible for overhauling Clothing & Home business
- The announcement of the start of a programme to create a family of businesses under the M&S brand
- The appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors to its Board
- A strategic partnership with Microsoft focused on transforming the retail experience
- A new strategic partnership with Octopus to supply energy and services under the M&S Energy brand
- The launch of Founders Factory Retail, a JV focused on investing in start-ups
- The creation of a Retail Data Academy with Decoded to upskill over 1000 colleagues
- A partnership with True to gain access to the latest enterprise-ready technologies and innovations
People & Structure Changes
Since Steve Rowe became CEO in April 2016, M&S has set about streamlining and changing its operational and leadership structure. The Clothing & Home and Food businesses have been established as two separate business units, each with full P&L accountabilities, and independently managed.
Additionally, the senior leadership team has been strengthened by reducing in number and fully empowering its Operating Committee, and a number of senior hires, including:
- David Guise, HR Director, appointed October 2016
- Mel Smith, Strategy Director, appointed May 2017
- Jill McDonald, Clothing & Home MD, appointed October 2017
- Victoria Self, Digital Director, appointed January 2018
- Sharry Cramond, Food Marketing Director, appointed January 2018
- Lawrence Christensen, Independent Advisor on Supply Chain, appointed March 2018
- Julian Richer, Independent Advisor on Culture Change, appointed March 2018
- Stuart Machin, Food MD, appointed April 2018
- Wes Taylor, Menswear Director, appointed May 2018
- Neil Adams, Food Transformation Director, appointed May 2018
- Jill Stanton, Womenswear & Kidswear Director, appointed July 2018
- Humphrey Singer, CFO, appointed July 2018
- Nick Hewitt, Director of Finance, Food, appointed August 2018