Chairman and Chief Executive : Luc Vandevelde

Appointed in February 2000. Previously Chairman and CEO of Promodés, which he joined in 1995, initially as President and Chief Operating Officer and latterly as Chairman. During this time he built Promodés into an international retailer with operations across Europe, Asia and South America. Chairman of ECR Europe and Global Commerce Initiative. Born in Belgium, he has spent most of his career working internationally, including 24 years with Kraft General Foods. Age 50. A Belgian citizen resident in the UK.

Managing Director UK Retail : Roger Holmes

Appointed in January 2001. Managing Director UK Retail. He joined the Company from Kingfisher where he was Chief Executive of the Electrical Sector and a main board director. Previously he was Finance Director with B&Q in 1994 and, three years later, was transferred to Woolworths to become Managing Director. Prior to Kingfisher, he spent seven years as a strategy consultant for McKinsey & Co, latterly as Principal, specialising in retail and consumer goods.Age 41.

Strategy and International Director : David Norgrove

Appointed in September 2000. Strategy and International. He served as a divisional director of Europe; Worldwide Franchising; Menswear and Strategy before taking up his current executive role. His previous career includes Assistant Secretary with HM Treasury; the First National Bank of Chicago; and Private Secretary to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher from 1985 until 1988.Age 53.

Group Marketing Director : Alan McWalter

Appointed in January 2000. Marketing, M&S Direct and e-commerce. He joined the Company from Kingfisher where he was Marketing Director with Woolworths and previously Marketing and Development Director at Comet. Past Chairman of the Marketing Society. Non-Executive Chairman of Constantine Holdings Ltd and a council member of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers.Age 47.

Finance Director : Alison Reed

Appointed Finance Director July 2001. A chartered accountant, she joined the Company in 1984 from Touche Ross & Co, and following a wide range of financial and commercial roles, was appointed Group Financial Controller in 1996, and UK Retail Finance Director in 1999. She is also a non-executive director of HSBC Bank p.l.c., a position she has held since 1996.Age 44.

Financial Services Director : Laurel Powers-Freeling

Appointed Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer Financial Services November 2001. She joined the Company from Lloyds TSB Group p.l.c. where she was Managing Director for Lloyds Wealth Management. She joined Lloyds TSB Group in 1994 as Group Finance Director for Lloyds Abbey Life and was subsequently Director of Finance and Retail Development within UK Retail banking. Prior to Lloyds TSB, she was responsible for corporate strategy and planning and the development of the personal financial planning business for Prudential p.l.c. Previous to this she worked for McKinsey in the United States and Europe and briefly at Morgan Stanley after graduating from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Age 44.

Non-Executive Director : Brian Baldock CBE

Appointed in 1996. Chairman from June 1999 to February 2000. Chairman of PIC Group International plc. Non-executive director of Cornhill Insurance plc. Chairman of Wellington Investments Ltd. He became Chairman of MENCAP in December 1998. He is past Chairman of the Lord’s Taverners, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Companion of the British Institute of Management and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.Age 66.

Non-Executive Director : Kevin Lomax

Appointed in September 2000. Founding investor in Misys in 1979. He was Non-Executive Chairman from May 1980 until June 1985, since when he has been Executive Chairman, leading Misys through a period of significant growth. He has wide-ranging experience of the industrial sector, including previous executive positions with Hanson and STC.Age 52.

Non-Executive Director : Dame Stella Rimington DCB

Appointed in 1997. Her career with the Security Service spanned 27 years and she was the first woman Director General. Non-executive director of BG Group plc and Whitehead Mann Group plc. Chairman of the Institute of Cancer Research. Member of the Board of the Royal Marsden Hospital NHS Trust.Age 65.

Non-Executive Director : Tony Ball

Appointed in September 2000. Chief Executive of BSkyB since June 1999. Previous roles as President and CEO of the US company Fox/Liberty Networks (1996-99) and General Manager of BSkyB.Age 45.

Non-Executive Director : Jack Keenan

Appointed in September 2001. He joined International Distillers & Vintners (IDV) as Chief Executive in March 1996, was appointed Chief Executive of United Distillers & Vintners (UDV) in December 1997 and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Guinness UDV, part of Diageo plc, in September 2000. He has spent more than 30 years in marketing and general management positions with General Foods Group and Kraft Foods International, rising to Chairman, Kraft Foods International. He is currently a non-executive director of The Body Shop International plc, a patron of the advisory board of the Cambridge Centre for International Business and Management and has served on the boards of Cable & Wireless Communications and Möet Hennessy.Age 64. A US citizen resident in the UK.

Non-Executive Director : Paul Myners

Appointed in April 2002. He is a leading figure in the City of London following a successful career in investment management and has long played a part in public life leading to his most recent report to the Government on institutional investment. His current directorships include Chairman of Guardian Media Group, Non-Executive Director of mm02 and his most recent appointment to the Board of the Bank of New York. He is a City Disputes Panellist, a member of the Financial Reporting Council and Chairman of the Lloyds' of London Investment Committee. Paul is also a Trustee of the Royal Academy, A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Chairman designate of the Tate St Ives.Age 54.