Appointment

Marks & Spencer PLC
23 October 2001





23 October, 2001

                      NEW DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

Marks & Spencer today announces the appointment of Laurel Powers-Freeling as a
main board director, with effect from 6 November 2001. Laurel will be
appointed Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer Financial Services, subject to
the normal regulatory procedures.

Laurel joins Marks & Spencer from Lloyds TSB Group plc. She was previously
Managing Director responsible for Lloyds TSB Wealth Management, a business
that has grown rapidly over the last few years, and she has recently re-shaped
the business and re-launched it under a new brand. Laurel joined Lloyds TSB in
1994 as Group Finance Director for Lloyds Abbey Life and was subsequently
Director of Finance and Retail Development within UK Retail Banking.

After graduating from Columbia and M.I.T., Laurel worked for McKinsey in the
US and Europe and briefly at Morgan Stanley before joining Prudential plc
where she was responsible for corporate strategy and planning, and the
development of the personal financial planning business.

 The Chief Executive role of Marks & Spencer Financial Services has been made
a main board appointment in order to strengthen and develop further the
synergies between the retailing and financial sides of the business.

Luc Vandevelde, Chairman & Chief Executive of Marks and Spencer plc, said:

'I am delighted to welcome Laurel to the board. Her successful track record in
developing financial services and retail banking will be a huge asset to us as
we shape our plans for the development of our Financial Services business.'



                                Graham Oakley

                              Company Secretary



For further information, please contact:

Sue Sadler, Corporate Press Office - Tel. [phone]