New Board Appointments

Marks & Spencer Group PLC
04 March 2004


Issued: Thursday 4 March 2004


   MARKS & SPENCER APPOINTS VITTORIO RADICE AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GENERAL
               MERCHANDISE AND A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RETAIL

Marks and Spencer Group plc announces that Vittorio Radice is to become the
Executive Director for General Merchandise, responsible for Clothing, Home and
store development.

Chief Executive, Roger Holmes said: 'The appointment of Vittorio to this new
role is absolutely the right choice at the right time. Vittorio is acknowledged
as an outstanding retailer with an ability to be bold and to transform our offer
to customers, as he has shown with the launch of Marks & Spencer Lifestore.'

The Company is also announcing the appointment of Mark McKeon to the newly
created Board position of Executive Director of Retail, International and
Outlets.

Roger Holmes added: 'Mark has a wealth of experience in fashion retailing. He
will bring a new dimension to our store operations and I am very pleased he is
joining Marks & Spencer.'

Both Board appointments are effective from Monday 5 April 2004. Clothing
Director, David Norgrove's departure date is confirmed as 31 March 2004.

Chairman, Luc Vandevelde said: 'Vittorio's and Mark's appointments are a clear
illustration of our ability to attract and retain the best in the market. The
combination of their fashion and retail talents alongside the other members of
the Board, brings together a powerful set of complementary skills at the top of
the Company.'

Roger Holmes also said of Barry Stevenson, who resigned recently as Retail
Director, 'Barry has made a great contribution in his three years with Marks &
Spencer and I am extremely grateful to him for all his commitment. He has
strengthened the retail teams and was instrumental in carrying out the
successful store renewal programme. We wish him the best for the future, as he
pursues opportunities in private equity and independent retailing.

'We are also very grateful to David for all he has done and wish him well for
the future. He has achieved a great deal in his time as Executive Director of
Clothing, including making considerable progress in our supply chain.'

Executive Director, Vittorio Radice said: 'Clothing at Marks & Spencer has to be
one of the most exciting jobs in retail today and I am taking it on with great
enthusiasm. I look forward to working with the team to build this important part
of the Company.'

Mark McKeon said: 'I see this as an outstanding opportunity to join the UK's
most respected retailer, at a time of dynamic change.'

Mark McKeon, 45, has spent his entire career in retail, largely in fashion, but
he also has recent experience of food and catering on an international scale. He
began his career with Waitrose, before moving to Next plc, who he left as Retail
Sales Director. He was subsequently Retail Director and then European Managing
Director of Episode, before joining Starbucks as President of Europe, Middle
East and Africa.

For further information, please contact:
Corporate Press Office   020 7268 8642/8323



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