New Leadership for M&S Stores

  • M&S appoints ex-Coles executive Thinus Keeve as new retail director
  • Keeve to oversee all stores across UK and Republic of Ireland
  • Experienced in sustainability, property, and export roles at Coles supermarket chain
  • Keeve joins M&S from Australia
  • New stores opening in Abingdon and Cannock later this year
  • 12 former Homebase units acquired, creating over 550 jobs

Mark & Spencer (M&S) has appointed former Coles senior executive Thinus Keeve to the newly created role of retail director. Keeve, who joins on June 6th, will be responsible for all of the retail giant’s stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as central store operations. He will report into Sacha Berendji, M&S’s operations director, who will continue to manage its retail, property, security, and business continuity departments. Keeve joins from Australia where he held several roles at the country’s second-largest supermarket chain Coles, including most recently chief sustainability, property, and export officer. M&S CEO Stuart Machin said: ‘Thinus joins M&S from Australia, having worked in numerous senior leadership roles at Coles. In his new role, Thinus will have accountability for all M&S stores across the UK and ROI, as well as Central Store Operations. Like all new senior leaders, Thinus will spend his first month working in stores getting close to colleagues and customers. Following this, he will join the ExCo team in July to ensure stores remain at the heart of decision-making across M&S. M&S is set to open two new 18,000sq ft stores later this year in Abingdon and Cannock following its acquisition of 12 former Homebase units, creating over 550 jobs and forming a central part of the retailer’s store rotation program aimed at building ‘bigger, better’ locations.

Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and relevant information about the appointment of Thinus Keeve as retail director at M&S, his previous experience, and the company’s plans to open new stores. It also mentions the rotation program aimed at improving store locations. However, it contains some repetitive information and a link to sign up for a newsletter which is not directly related to the content.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about the appointment of a new executive and upcoming store openings, but lacks in-depth analysis or exploration of long-term trends or consequences.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: No
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses the appointment of Thinus Keeve as retail director at M&S, which is a financial topic related to company management. However, there is no mention of any specific impact on financial markets or companies.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Extreme Rating Justification: No extreme event mentioned in the text

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