Stuart Rose to join Bridgepoint to help develop retail portfolio
Former Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose is to join private equity group Bridgepoint.
Read Stuart Rose’s interview with Marketing Week given as he entered his last year at the helm of the retailer here
Rose will step down as M&S chairman in January 2011 and join Bridgepoint Capital’s advisory committee which backs a retail portfolio including brands such as Pret A Manger, Fat Face and HobbyCraft.
The move ends speculation as to where Sir Stuart would move to after a total of six years at M&S, which he joined as a trainee in 1972.
Sir Stuart says: “Bridgepoint is one of Europe’s leading private equity groups and a major investor in retail.
“I am greatly looking forward to working closely with the team and providing consumer insight for their investments.”
Prior to heading up M&S, Rose was chief executive of Arcadia group, Argos and of Booker, the wholesaler.
Rose was knighted in 2008 for services to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility.
Bridgepoint managing partner William Jackson says he is “delighted” Sir Stuart will be joining the firm.
“He’s had a fantastic business career and has unparalleled experience in the retail world where Bridgepoint has made substantial investments over the years. It will be great to have him on the team,” says Jackson.
Bridgepoint split from National Westminster Bank in 2000 to become one of Europe’s biggest mid-market private equity groups.
