Luc Vandevelde to Join as Chairman

Marks & Spencer PLC
24 January 2000



LUC VANDEVELDE TO JOIN MARKS & SPENCER AS CHAIRMAN
                         
                         
Marks and Spencer plc announces the appointment of  Luc
Vandevelde as Chairman with effect from 28th February
2000.

Luc Vandevelde, aged 48, joins Marks & Spencer from Promodes, 
one of the largest retailers in Europe, where
he was President and Chief Operating Officer for four
years and Chairman since autumn 1999.  Following the
announcement of the merger between Promodes and
Carrefour, he was also named as Executive Vice Chairman
designate of the merged group.

During his career to date, Luc Vandevelde:

 Held operational, financial and strategic roles at
 Kraft General Foods in the US and five European
 countries, becoming Chief  Executive Officer of   Kraft
 Jacob Suchard  France  and Italy.


  Built Promodes into a leading international retailer
  with over 6000 stores in 16 countries - ranging from
  neighbourhood stores to out of town hypermarkets,
  with a 60:40 mix of food and non-food.
  
 Delivered  outstanding  growth  and  value  creation
 at Promodes, where during the four years following
 his arrival in 1995, the company achieved average
 annual earnings growth of 25%  and a six-fold
 increase in the share price giving it  a market
 capitalisation of approximately £13.5 billion.

 Was  a  driving force behind the merger between Promodes
 and  Carrefour,  which will create the
 largest  retailer  in Europe  and  the second
 largest retailer in the  world  with expected annual
 sales in 1999 of FFr 355 billion (£35 billion).


Vandevelde, a Belgian national, will join Marks &
Spencer  as full-time   Executive  Chairman  focusing
on  the   strategic development of the  Group with
Peter Salsbury, Chief Executive. The Executive team
will continue to report directly to  Peter Salsbury.



Brian Baldock, Chairman, said today:

'We are thrilled that Luc is joining us.  He is
overwhelmingly the right man for the job and brings
with him a wealth of expertise in brand management and
successful experience in retailing around the world.
Luc has helped create substantial shareholder value for
Promodes and he will quickly be able to make a
significant contribution to Marks & Spencer.'


Peter Salsbury, Chief Executive, added:


'Luc  brings  with  him a fresh perspective  and  the
broader experience in the international retailing scene
which we  were looking for.  This will be a vital
element as we drive forward the  programme of 
radical change which has been underway  for the  past year.  
We have already developed a good rapport  and together 
we will create a strong partnership.'

Luc Vandevelde, Chairman Designate, said:

'Marks  &  Spencer  is one of the great retail  names
in  the world.   Most leading brands go through tough
periods at  some stage,  but if they have the
fundamental strengths,  they  can come  back with
renewed force.  I believe that Marks & Spencer does
have  those  fundamental strengths  in  its  brand,
its financial   base,  its  property  portfolio  and
its   strong retailing skills.  I am looking forward to
playing my part  in leveraging those strengths.  Having
spent time with Peter  and his team recently, I have
been impressed by their appetite for change  and
determination to succeed.  In  my  experience  of
turnarounds, these are the two essential qualities for
success and  this  gives  me confidence that we can
build  substantial value for shareholders.'


The  Directors  of Marks and Spencer plc accept
responsibility for  the information contained in this
statement.  To the best of  the knowledge and belief of
the Directors (who have  taken all  reasonable  care to
ensure that such is  the  case),  the information
contained in this document is in accordance  with the
facts  and  does not omit anything likely to  affect
the import of such information.

For further information please contact:

Marks & Spencer
Luc Vandevelde
Brian Baldock
Peter Salsbury
Brian Hudspith/Mark Ashman/Jane Lowe

                         020 7404 5959 (Today only)

Brunswick
Susan Gilchrist/Gill Ackers/Anita Scott
                         020 7404 5959
Stuart Bruseth (broadcast media)
                         01426 627360 (pager)

NOTES FOR EDITORS
Exchange Rate used in this announcement: GBP1 = FFR9.97



Biography of Luc Vandevelde attached



                   BIOGRAPHY OF
                  LUC VANDEVELDE
                         
                         
                         
Luc  Vandevelde is currently Chairman of Promodes, one
of  the largest  retail  groups in Europe.  Born in
Belgium, he  has spent most of his career working
internationally.

He joined Kraft General Foods, owners of well-known
brands such as Maxwell House, Dairylea and
Philadelphia, in 1971. During his 24 year career at the
Group, he had experience of working in 30 countries and
performed a number of operational, strategic and
financial management roles, including the successful
acquisition and integration of the Jacob/Suchard
companies into Kraft after their acquisition in 1990.

He moved to Promodes in 1995 initially as President and
Chief Operating Officer and latterly as Chairman during
which time he has built the company into an
international retailer with operations across Europe,
Asia and South America.   Under his leadership,   sales
and profits have both increased significantly and the
market capitalisation of the Company has grown sixfold.

He  was  a  driving force behind the merger of
Promodes with Carrefour  announced  in August 1999,
which  will  create  the biggest retailer in Europe and
the second largest in the world after Wal-Mart.  He was
appointed the number two executive in the enlarged
group.