Marks & Spencer has assigned a new product development director by promoting former head of product Kathryn Turner.
Turner has worked in product development at the upmarket retailer for 27 years – including the past six years as head of product.
She has been widely credited with delivering some of M&S’s best-known lines.
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In her previous role, Kathryn Turner was responsible for the creation of Christmas food and gifting products, including its ‘light up’ range, which is currently being marketed overseas via a partnership with US retailer Target.
She is the permanent replacement for former M&S Food product development chief April Preston, who was appointed Holland & Barrett’s new global product director earlier this year.
Turner joined M&S in 1995 from Mars, where she worked in sales before following a career in category development at the company.
M&S Food MD Alex Freudmann said Turner had “exceptional lifestyle and food trend insights,” and had specialised in transforming categories.
Freudmann said: “Throughout her six years as a head of product, Kathryn has brought her passion for creativity and quality to our product development within both ambient and fresh, protecting the magic of M&S whilst supporting the team to go further with unique market-leading innovation.
“This promotion is very well deserved and demonstrates our commitment to developing internal talent as we build a bigger, better, fresher food business,” he added.
The news comes as M&S invests £48.5m in new store openings in Northern England to make them “bigger and better.”
The retailer had previously invested £20 million into its northern store estate this year, and plans to spend a further £28.5 million in 2023.
