Sainsbury’s boss to head M&S food

Marks & Spencer has poached Sainsbury’s head of strategy for marketing Miranda Pode to be its head of food marketing.

Pode replaces Helen Buck, who has been made head of marketing and strategy for clothing.

Pode, who starts as head of marketing at M&S’s food business unit in January, will report to director of food Maurice Helfgott, who was appointed last month. Helfgott replaced Justin King, who is now chief executive of Sainsbury’s.

Before taking charge of strategy in the marketing division at Sainsbury’s, Pode was general manager for the supermarket’s petrol business. She also managed a trial with Boots, now abandoned, in which health and beauty aisles in a handful of Sainsbury’s stores were stocked and branded by the high street chemist.

At M&S, Pode will have responsibility for the convenience Simply Food outlets and the neighbourhood Food retail outlets, in addition to M&S’s general food range and its specific food brands such as Count on Us.

M&S’s food advertising is handled by Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R.