Marks & Spencer has confirmed changes to its People Leadership Team, as the retailer’s long-serving people director Sarah Findlater is set to leave the business in the autumn after 27 years.
Findlater will be succeeded by well-known HR leader Hayley Tatum, who will take up the role of chief people officer in October 2025 and join the executive committee. Tatum will begin her induction month working in M&S stores alongside store colleagues, as well as in distribution centres.
Prior to her appointment at M&S, Tatum spent more than 14 years at Asda, most recently holding the post of chief people and corporate affairs officer. She has held a non executive director role at the Department for Work and Pensions, and spent more than nine years at Tesco, where she was UK and Ireland operations personnel director, after “starting on the tills”.
Stuart Machin, CEO of M&S, has previously worked with Tatum. He highlighted her “hands-on and collaborative leadership style,” developed through senior HR and store operations roles.
“We have lots to do in the years ahead to transform M&S and importantly become even closer to our customers and closer to our colleagues,” he said.
Tatum said: “I am thrilled and proud to have been asked to join M&S. After spending my entire career in retail, to be joining the most trusted brand in the UK is a real ‘pinch me’ moment. I begin my induction in October, learning and serving alongside the team. Excited…doesn’t quite capture it!”
Findlater, who held the people director role for the past three years, was praised for her commitment and leadership.
Machin commented: “Sarah has been an absolute joy to work with, an incredibly hard worker and someone who cares deeply about M&S and our colleagues.”
He added that she will leave “as a long-term friend of the company” with the leadership’s “sincere thanks”.
