With M&S targeting growth abroad, the UK retail giant has strengthened its global leadership team with three new senior appointments “to reset its International business”.

Manish Kapoor joins in April as its new managing director for M&S India. He was most recently MD & CEO, India, at Pepe Jeans. Before that, he was chief operating officer at French Connection in India from 2012-2014. Prior to that he was at Benetton where “he grew the India business and expanded the brand’s footprint in South and Southeast Asia”. He also launched Benetton’s e-commerce vertical in India and played a pivotal role in scaling Sisley’s business there. 

To the new post, he “brings a wealth of experience building global retail brands with deep understanding of Indian consumers”. Specifically, he will have “accountability for driving the strategic plans forward in India”, M&S said. 

Victoria Jones, formerly at footwear giant Clarks, has just stepped into the role of commercial director, International. She spent the last three years leading Clarks’ global strategy for end-to-end planning, assortment, trading and delivery. Jones will now have accountability for the product strategy of the international business across both Clothing and Food, “ensuring the right product is available for customers, in the right place, at the right time, leveraging the best of the UK”.

Finally, Richard Davies has been promoted to international partnerships director. He joined M&S in 2011 as a regional manager for the Southeast, before moving to the Support Centre where he worked across a number of roles within Clothing & Home. In 2021, he was appointed head of category for ‘Brands at M&S’, building the UK third-party brand strategy from scratch which today has over 100 partners. He joins as Partnerships director “to unite the Franchise and Wholesale selling models under one umbrella”.

All three will report to managing director, International, Mark Lemming, who was appointed last year following M&S announcing “a reset of priorities for its International business under fresh leadership”.

Lemming’s remit is to “build strong foundations for future growth through capital light partnerships and a multi-platform online business”. It added: “Over time, the reset will enable greater opportunity to leverage the strength and knowledge of the M&S UK business and trusted brand to increase global reach”. 

Lemming said: “The reset… is focused on taking the right time and actions to build strong foundations for sustainable growth. Building an experienced global leadership team is an essential element of this plan and Manish, Victoria and Richard will play important roles, bringing fresh perspectives on our International reset and future growth strategy.”

“As we continue to progress with our strategy, I remain confident in the medium and long term opportunity for M&S to drive global growth.”