M&S signs 

Lane Fox Martha Lane Fox, co-founder of online booking agency Lastminute.com, has been appointed by Marks & Spencer as a non-executive director . Lane Fox, who netted £13m when Lastminute.com was sold for £577m in 2003, is to start work on 1 June. M&S chief executive Stuart Rose said Lane Fox would be a useful sounding board for the retailer as it looked to expand its online business. 

Dunlea departs 

Symbol group operator MBL has lost its third senior executive, finance director Aidan Dunlea, in a year. His exit from MBL, which is owned by Ireland's Musgrave Group, to a finance director's post with Barry's Tea in his native Cork follows last year's departure of managing director Mike Taylor and marketing director Stephanie Price. 

Closhen's new role 

Spar UK has appointed Cornelia Closhen as advertising manager, taking over many duties of former marketing controller Simon Fisher who left last month. Reporting to Spar marketing director Susan Darbyshire, Closhen will be responsible for the group's advertising as well as managing the Spar Sprints initiative and sponsorship, overseeing Spar's website and handling its 'There for You' consumer marketing programme. Closhen joined Spar in March 2005 as consumer insight manager focusing on managing research projects and ensuring ideas were implemented. 

Randall signed up 

Party food manufacturer Thomas Food Group has appointed Mark Randall as finance director. The group, which supplies own-label pastry products to Waitrose and Marks & Spencer, has undergone significant growth in the past year, following the completion of a major investment programme.

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