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LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - The new boss of British clothingand food retailer Marks & Spencer has shaken-up theresponsibilities of his executive team and simplified the firm'smanagement structure as he seeks to speed-up decision making.
Steve Rowe, who succeeded Marc Bolland as chief executive ofthe 132-year-old institution last month, on Thursday reduced thenumber of executive director roles from the six Bolland favouredto four. He has also established a new eleven person operatingcommittee, replacing a 20-person management committee.
Rowe sees quicker decision making as key to addressing hisnumber one priority - fixing M&S's underperforming clothing andhome business.
He has given Helen Weir, his chief finance officer,additional responsibility for strategy implementation.
Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, executive director marketing &international, loses the international remit becoming executivedirector of customer, marketing & M&S.com, and assumingresponsibility for 'Plan A', M&S's environmental programme.
The international business will now report to Rowe.
Laura Wade-Gery, executive director, multi-channel, iscurrently on maternity leave. M&S said it will update on herresponsibilities when she returns in September.
The new operating committee, which includes the fourexecutive directors, will be accountable for the day-to-dayrunning of M&S as well as for the development and execution ofstrategy.
It will include the directors of food, Andy Adcock,womenswear, lingerie & beauty, Jo Jenkins, retail, SachaBerendji, and international, Paul Friston, who is promoted fromthe role of business development director.
"On my first day as CEO, I committed to putting M&Scustomers at the heart of everything we do," said Rowe.
"These changes reflect this; a simpler management structurewith a smaller, more focused team running M&S will lead to moreefficient decision making and move us closer to our customers."
Rowe, a company veteran of 26 years, is due to give astrategy update on May 25, when M&S will also report 2015-16results.
Shares in M&S were up 1.3 percent at 423.2 pence at 12.24GMT. (Reporting by James Davey; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
