M&S bolsters tech capabilities with appointment of Shazam boss to board as Martha Lane Fox steps down
Marks and Spencer has appointed former Shazam chief and current chairman Andrew Fisher to its Board as a non-executive director while Martha Lane Fox is to step down early next year.
Lane Fox has served on the board for the past nine years and M&S chairman Robert Swannell acknowledged the impact her strong digital background has had on the company: "From culture to Plan A and many other matters, with the perspective and energy that only a true entrepreneur can bring,” he said.
During her tenure on the board, M&S launched a ‘digital lab’ as it looked to embrace a start-up mentality and better connect the on and offline experience.
Since then, it has dabbled with a digital stylist, a ‘Shirt Shop’ which sought to simplify shirt buying for men and a Pinterest-inspired ‘M&S Style Board’ for people to create inspiration boards as well as testing out a loyalty card to help personalise the shopping experience.
However, earlier this year Lane Fox revealed she would spearhead an ambitious venture, Dot Everyone, which aims to create a national institution to make Britain “the most digital nation on the planet”. On her imminent departure from M&S she said: “I have been proud to be part of this fantastic business and to have played a part in shaping this iconic brand for its future”.
Fisher will take up his appointment on 1 December 2015 when M&S will look to lean on his knowledge of mobile alongside his consumer insight and international experience. Under his leadership, Shazam has grown into a global mobile service with over 750 million users across 200 countries.
Fisher is also a non-executive director of MoneySupermarket Group and a member of the Advisory Board to the Secretary of State for the current review of the BBC Charter.