Belinda Earl, the retail guru charged with revitalising Marks & Spencer’s clothing offer, is best known for a stint in charge at Debenhams in a retail career spanning more than 25 years.
More recently, she teamed up with the fashion entrepreneur Harold Tillman at Aquascutum and Jaeger, although their bid to revive the luxury brands was hit by tough trading conditions in the wake of the financial crisis.
Aquascutum collapsed into administration earlier this year and Jaeger was sold to a private equity firm owned by the British venture capitalist Jon Moulton for £19.5m.
Earl, who left Jaeger earlier this year after taking sick leave, is set to take up the newly created role as style director at M&S from September but will only work two or three days a week.
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With Marks’s non-food sales having fallen 6.8% in the 13 weeks to 30 June – its worst performance for more than three years – her latest assignment may be her toughest to date.
Although some of the sales declines are down to recent grim weather and tough high-street trends, analysts fear that the UK’s biggest retailer is starting to lose its grip on the key womenswear market.
Its wares are advertised by celebrities such as Gary Barlow and Myleene Klass but there is a feeling that recent lines have been “off-trend”.
via Marks & Spencer’s new clothing chief is best known for Debenhams success | Business | guardian.co.uk.