Latest news with #Keeve
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
M&S picks Coles executive Thinus Keeve to drive retail strategy
UK-based retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) has appointed Thinus Keeve as its new retail director, effective from 6 June 2025, to boost its strategy and strengthen leadership. In a statement on LinkedIn, M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said that Keeve brings with him a wealth of experience from Australia, having held several senior leadership roles at Coles supermarket. His responsibilities at M&S will encompass all stores across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, in addition to central store operations. As part of his integration into the company, Keeve will spend his initial month working within stores to forge strong connections with colleagues and customers. Keeve will then join the M&S executive committee (ExCo) in July, ensuring that store operations remain central to the company's decision-making process. Keeve will report to operations director Sacha Berendji. Berendji is tasked with the oversight of retail, property, security and business continuity, as well as heading the store rotation programme, a pivotal element in the company's growth plans. In April 2025, M&S announced plans to invest £90m to open 17 new and revamped stores in London up to 2026. The company's growth strategy includes the launch of foodhalls in high-profile locations such as Covent Garden, Clapham Common, Putney and Fulham Broadway, pending planning approvals. M&S previously pledged £95m to increase its retail pay offer, despite facing additional financial pressures due to recent government measures such as an increase in employer National Insurance contributions. "M&S picks Coles executive Thinus Keeve to drive retail strategy" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Fashion Network
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Thinus Keeve is new M&S retail director
M&S is still reeling from its cyberattack but aside from the work going on to counter that, it's business as usual elsewhere. And part of that is a focus on key roles within the firm. It has just announced the creation of a new one — retail director — with Thinus Keeve taking up the post as of 6 June. Reflecting M&S's increasing importance in the UK supermarkets space, his background includes Australian supermarket Coles, where he was chief sustainability, property & export officer until mid-2022. It was the last of several roles he held at the business from 2010, including director of its commercial property operations. But he's not just about foods and more recently he led Australian natural beauty company BWX Limited. And he's an investor in NanoCap Collective, a group of 'independent investors dedicated to discovering high-quality businesses for fractional investment'. Having spent most of his career in Australia, it will clearly be a big change moving into the UK retail sector. But this isn't a case of moving from a small company to a larger one — after all the market value of Coles is currently A$29 billion (£22 billion) while M&S's market value is 'only' just under £8 billion. M&S CEO said Keeve will 'have accountability for' all M&S stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as central store operations. After an initial month immersing himself in the business, he'll join the executive committee in July.
Fashion Network
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Thinus Keeve is new M&S retail director
M&S is still reeling from its cyberattack but aside from the work going on to counter that, it's business as usual elsewhere. And part of that is a focus on key roles within the firm. It has just announced the creation of a new one — retail director — with Thinus Keeve taking up the post as of 6 June. Reflecting M&S's increasing importance in the UK supermarkets space, his background includes Australian supermarket Coles, where he was chief sustainability, property & export officer until mid-2022. It was the last of several roles he held at the business from 2010, including director of its commercial property operations. But he's not just about foods and more recently he led Australian natural beauty company BWX Limited. And he's an investor in NanoCap Collective, a group of 'independent investors dedicated to discovering high-quality businesses for fractional investment'. Having spent most of his career in Australia, it will clearly be a big change moving into the UK retail sector. But this isn't a case of moving from a small company to a larger one — after all the market value of Coles is currently A$29 billion (£22 billion) while M&S's market value is 'only' just under £8 billion. M&S CEO said Keeve will 'have accountability for' all M&S stores across the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as central store operations. After an initial month immersing himself in the business, he'll join the executive committee in July.
Fashion United
27-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Marks & Spencer appoints Thinus Keeve to new retail director role
British department store Marks & Spencer has appointed Thinus Keeve to the newly created role of retail director. Keeve will take up the position from June 6, after which he will report to operations director Sacha Berendij. Keeve is relocating to the UK from Australia, where he had served in a number of senior roles at various companies. He most recently held the position of chief executive officer and managing director of beauty company BWX, which he took up after serving for almost 13 years at Australian supermarket chain Coles Group. His appointment was announced by Marks & Spencer's chief executive officer, Steve Machin, in a post on LinkedIn. Here, Machin said that Keeve will be tasked with overseeing all of the retailer's stores in the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as holding responsibility for central store operations. Machin added: 'Like all new senior leaders, Thinus will spend his first month working in stores getting close to colleagues and close to customers. Following this, to ensure stores remain at the very heart of our decision-making across Marks & Spencer, in July he will also join our ExCo team.' Upon Keeve joining, Berendij will continue to have overall accountability for retail, property, security and business continuity. The operations director is further responsible for accelerating the company's store rotation programme, Machin noted.
