Bond says no to M&S
ASDA chief executive Andy Bond ruled himself out of the running for the top job at Marks & Spencer yesterday.
Bond, who has been tipped to succeed Sir Stuart Rose as M&S’s chief executive next year, said bluntly: “I’m not going to M&S – end of story.”
M&S has said it would prefer an internal candidate to replace Rose, who has been lambasted by investors for combining the roles of chairman and chief executive against corporate governance guidelines, but is ready to look at external hopefuls if necessary.
Bond had been seen as a strong possibility because of his success at growing Britain’s second-biggest supermarket and his experience in running Asda’s George clothing business. He has previously welcomed his name being linked with Rose’s succession.
Other people in the frame are believed to include Sainsbury’s boss Justin King and Morrison chief Marc Bolland.
Bond was speaking as he unveiled plans to get customers more involved with Asda. This will include allowing shoppers to monitor its processing plants via webcams and influencing product development and purchasing decisions.