Marc Bolland has returned to his former stamping ground to recruit a new head of food for Marks & Spencer.

Christopher Taylor joins the high street giant from Morrisons, also taking responsibility for the franchise and hospitality business.

Taylor, who was business development director at Morrisons, takes over Simply Food from Neil Hyslop, who is moving to a new role as director of space planning and development.

The appointment comes almost a year after M&S lured Bolland from Morrisons and is the retailer's third major appointment in as many months. Jan Heere joined in February as head of international, while Tesco big-hitter Laura Wade-Gery defected to oversee the company's online push.

“We're delighted to confirm that Christopher Taylor is joining M&S as director of Simply Food, franchise and hospitality,” the company said in a statement.

“Christopher joins us on 3 May and we're looking forward to welcoming him to the team.”

This week M&S announced a strong performance by its food business in the past quarter, with like-for-like sales up 3.4% in the previous three months.

Read more
M&S food business storms ahead in fourth quarter (6 April 2011)
M&S confirms Paris entry (1 April 2011)
M&S hires Heere to head up international push (24 February 2011)
Hot Topic: Wade-Gery exit says more about M&S than about Tesco (12 February 2011)

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