Darrell Stein, Marks & Spencer’s director of IT and logistics, is splitting his role to become director of IT, while Dirk Lembregts has been recruited to take on the new role of director of supply chain.
The change, which takes effect in January, reflects the retailer’s high level of focus on these activities. A spokesperson for Marks & Spencer said: “As we continue to develop our business plans to become a leading international multi-channel retailer, the development of our supply chain and our drive for faster, more innovative technology becomes increasingly important and warrants specific focus in each area.
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Marks & Spencer has been going through a major restructuring of logistics facilities in the UK. In 2010 it opened a 1.1m sq ft DC in Bradford, and it is now recruiting 1,000 staff for its next major development – a 900,000 sq ft distribution centre at Castle Donington which due to open early next year. This will be followed by a development in the south of England.
Lembregts has held senior supply chain roles at General Motors, Philips and Xerox.
Reporting into him will be three key department heads: Tim Owrid, head of GM strategic network (who is joining early next year); Alex Hatchman, head of food logistics; and Andrew Walmsley, head of GM and international logistics.
Both Stein and Lembregts will report to chief financial officer Alan Stewart.
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Stein originally joined Marks & Spencer from Vodafone in 2006 taking on the role of IT director. He was later asked to take on the supply chain brief.
The spokesperson said: “Darrell has done a tremendous job in driving the huge transformation in our supply chain over the past four years and will now focus on the major role IT will play in delivering our strategic goals. These include moving to a new web platform, IT-driven distribution centres and new systems in our GM business.
