Fortnum & Mason has appointed Tim Fisher, a former manager at Marks & Spencer’s flagship Marble Arch store, as its new retail director.

Fisher has joined the Queen’s grocer after a long career at M&S dating back to 1988.

At M&S, he managed stores across the UK and worked for the retailer abroad, opening stores in Budapest and Vienna with a franchise partner. He was deputy store manager during his time at the 170,000 sq ft Marble Arch store on Oxford Street.

Fisher replaces Katie Wyle, who was manager of Fortnum & Mason’s Piccadilly store before leaving to become deputy store manager at Selfridges in March.

Fortnum & Mason initially advertised for a store manager to replace Wyle. It is understood that the retailer then decided to look for someone who would be more involved in strategy and upgraded the role to retail director to reflect that.

He was placed by headhunters Anthony Gregg Partnership.

Fortnum & Mason is currently operating without a CEO after Beverley Aspinall left the retailer at the end of May. After seven years at the helm, Aspinall quit “to pursue new challenges”. The search for her replacement is ongoing.

Fortnum & Mason recently refurbished its top-floor tea rooms and in commemoration of the Queen’s 60-year reign named it the Diamond jubilee Tea Room. It was opened in March by the Queen on her first official visit with both the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge.

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