Directorate

MARKS AND SPENCER PLC
23 September 1999



         MARKS & SPENCER APPOINTS A MARKETING DIRECTOR
                               
Marks  &  Spencer  today  announces the  appointment  of  Alan
McWalter  as  Group Marketing Director, with effect  from  1st
January 2000.

Alan, aged 46, joins Marks & Spencer from Kingfisher plc where
he  has  been  since  1991.   His appointments  at  Kingfisher
included  Marketing Director for Woolworths plc  (since  1994)
and  Marketing  and  Business Development Director  for  Comet
Group plc (1991-1994).

Prior to this, he was Marketing Director and subsequently Vice
President, Thomson UK Operations, within the Thomson  Consumer
Electronics Group and his early career was spent in  marketing
at Spillers Foods and Unilever.

Alan  now  takes  responsibility  as  Executive  Director  for
Marketing,   reporting  directly  to  Peter  Salsbury,   Chief
Executive.   James  Benfield, who  has  been  instrumental  in
establishing  the new marketing function will  concentrate  on
the  UK retail chain, the fast-growing Direct business and the
development of E-commerce.

Peter Salsbury said:

'The  appointment of our first Marketing Director from outside
the business, is a big step in the right direction for Marks &
Spencer.   Alan  is  highly regarded and brings  with  him  an
enormous range of marketing experience.  We are delighted that
he  joins  us  at  this exciting time as we  develop  Marks  &
Spencer  for  the future.  We know that the relationship  with
our  customer  is crucial, and the marketing of  the  Marks  &
Spencer brand is key to our success.'

Alan McWalter said:

'This  is  one of the top jobs in UK retailing,  and  Marks  &
Spencer has a fantastic brand heritage.  I am delighted to  be
joining  the  company  at this time, and  I  look  forward  to
working  with  Peter  and the team to develop  a  world  class
brand'.



                           Secretary

For further information contact:

Jane Lowe      0171 268 6656
Mark Ashman         0171 268 2217