M&S shakes up its marketing structure

Marks & Spencer has overhauled its marketing structure to create two senior posts for Lucy Calver and Susan Aubrey-Cound.

Both were previously heads of campaigns (MW October 14, 2004), but each has been given the post of group head of marketing.

Calver will oversee newly amalgamated marketing operations for womenswear, lingerie, childrenswear and beauty, while Aubrey-Cound has responsibility for customer communications.

M&S womenswear marketing director Julian Baker is leaving to join Ann Summers as business development director.

He is also a former head of M&S’s childrenswear range.

Baker is understood to be going on gardening leave next month until early December, when he will take up his new role overseeing marketing and merchandising, reporting to Ann Summers managing director Julie Harris.

Baker will be in charge of a marketing team of 12 people, including marketing director Gordon Lee.

Ann Summers has opened more than 30 stores in the UK in the past two years, and is unveiling its first superstore in Cardiff. It has experienced double-digit sales growth in the past 12 months, with internet business up 30 per cent, and Party Plan bookings up 20 per cent.

The company opened its first overseas store in Valencia earlier this year and plans to open at least five more in Spain over the next 12 months, including outlets in Barcelona and Madrid.