Halfords CEO moves to M&S to head up clothing division

Jill McDonald, CEO of Halfords, has been announced as the new managing director of Clothing, Home & Beauty at Marks & Spencer and will take up the role in the autumn.

McDonald will take over from M&S CEO Steve Rowe who has been overseeing the position in addition to his CEO role, which he took up in April last year. In her new role, which reports to Rowe, McDonald will hold overall profit and loss accountability for all aspects of the M&S non-food business, from design and sourcing through to supply chain and logistics.

In addition McDonald will sit on the M&S Operating Committee and CFO Helen Weir will also hand over responsibility for the Clothing, Home & Beauty Supply Chain & Logistics to McDonald.

"Jill is an excellent addition to the M&S senior leadership team and we are delighted that she is joining us. Jill’s first-class customer knowledge and great experience in running dynamic, high achieving teams make her exactly the right person to lead this all-important part of our business from recovery in to growth," Rowe said of the appointment.

McDonald said M&S had a "unique, special relationship" with its customers. "I have long been an M&S customer and professional fan, so working with the brand was a career opportunity that I just couldn’t turn down. I am looking forward to joining Steve and the team later this year to build on the plans that are already underway," she said.

M&S has also announced that, on McDonald's arrival, Jo Jenkins will move to the new role of Clothing & Beauty Director, reporting into McDonald, and with expanded accountabilities for all clothing across womenswear, menswear and kidswear.