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Marks & Spencer enlists Victoria’s Secret to boost clothing sales

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By John Glenday, Reporter

November 6, 2012 | 1 min read

High Street retailing giant Marks & Spencer is turning to underwear in a bid to boost flagging clothing sales with the recruitment of the luxury lingerie brands former chief creative officer as its new director of lingerie and beauty.

Janie Schaffer has been nicknamed the ‘Knicker Queen’ for her lead role in the industry and will be given the unenviable task of turning round the retailers flagging merchandise business, which is today expected to report a fall in first half profits of 10% and a decline in like-for-like general merchandise sales of 5%.

Svaffer’s arrival comes amidst a more general management shakeup at the firm with incumbent Frances Russell being promoted to director of womenswear.

Annette Browne, the former womenswear head, will depart the business with immediate effect.

M&S chief executive Marc Bolland said: “We have been able to establish a team that combines the best of M&S experience with exciting, new, external talent. Their impact will start to come through when we launch our Autumn/Winter collections in July next year.”

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