UK retailer Marks & Spencer has announced the appointment of Fiona Dawson as a non-executive director to its board, effective 25 May 2021.
Dawson, who presently serves as the global president of Mars Food, will also join the company’s nomination committee, Marks & Spencer added.
Dawson is an experienced professional who joined Mars as a graduate trainee.
She held several top roles in the company, including president of global retail and vice president of Mars Chocolate UK and European Marketing division.
She also has a strong track record in sustainability, health and wellbeing, particularly women’s entrepreneurship and human rights.
'A Superb Fit'
M&S chairman, Archie Norman, said, “As a business leader Fiona [Dawson] has been a trailblazer as the first-ever female general manager at Mars UK, helping steer not just Mars but also the broader food industry through challenging health and regulatory issues.
“Fiona [Dawson] has epitomised the Mars’ culture of driving growth with a strong moral compass. Her focus on coupling societal change with performance, underpinned by a strong corporate culture, make her a superb fit for Marks & Spencer.”
Dawson’s appointment follows the addition of former CEO of BUPA, Evelyn Bourke, to the company’s board as a non-executive director earlier this year.
Norman added that Marks & Spencer operates a highly engaged board committed to transforming the company and described Dawson as a “very strong addition” to its team.
“As a former President of the IGD, and through leading a major supplier, she knows the UK and global food retail industry better than anyone. She has operated at the cutting edge of consumer marketing, and her background is in growing iconic, heritage brands,” he stated.
© 2021 European Supermarket Magazine. Article by Dayeeta Das. For more Retail news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
