FD Dyson takes new strategic task at M&S

Marks & Spencer's FD Ian Dyson has been charged with driving forward the business at home and internationally in a major new project.

Known as '2020- Do the Right Thing', the scheme will see M&S drive its business in China, India and Europe, highlight its ethical and sustainability objectives and also look to revitalise the way it deals with customers.

Dyson will be in charge of pushing change through, and will report into chairman Sir Stuart Rose.

'Over the last six months, the Board has completed a thorough review of the business. This confirmed our long term growth plans but also highlighted the need to deliver a step change in the way we service our customers’ needs and operate our business,' said Sir Stuart.

'We are giving Ian Dyson responsibility to drive the ‘2020 – Doing the Right Thing’ change programme with immediate effect.'

M&S posted a drop in profits to £768m for the year ended 28 March 2009, from £1.1bn a year earlier. Final dividend per share was cut by a third to 9.5p, while UK like for like sales fell by 5.9%.

Total sales climbed by 0.9% to £9.1bn.

Further reading:

Accountancy Age Awards 2007: FD - Blue Chip (over £50m turnover)

Profile: Ian Dyson, group FD of Marks & Spencer