Alex Freudmann has been made managing director of M&S Food

Marks and Spencer has appointed Alex Freudmann as managing director of food, in a planned succession to Stuart Machin, the current M&S chief executive.

Freudmann is currently managing director of Dan Murphy’s, Australia’s beer, wine and spirits retailer. It said he has an “extensive” track record of leading change in some of the world’s best food and drink retailers, including Tesco, Coles and Dan Murphy’s.

He joined Dan Murphy’s, part of Endeavour Group, in January 2020 after a successful 10 years as part of the Coles transformation team, latterly as director of Fresh Food.

Freudmann will join M&S on 1 November and will sit on the executive committee. M&S has also confirmed a change of responsibility for Machin, who will hand over his food accountabilities to Freudmann upon his arrival.

Machin said: “Alex will bring a great deal of experience and passion to our business. He has worked in food retailing for nearly two decades and in all of his roles he’s been a change-maker – bringing intellect, pace and energy. He will be a great addition to our top team as we work together to deliver the next stage of our transformation.”

Freudmann added: “M&S Food is a unique and very special business with world-leading food values, and I’ve always had huge respect for the brand. I’ve watched how the business has been transformed over the past few years from afar.

“Although much has been achieved, huge opportunities remain, and I share the Executive team’s belief in the long-term potential to double the size of the business. I am looking forward to coming back to the UK and working with a great team to accelerate the pace of change to build an even bigger, better, fresher Food business.”