M&S executive to go on maternity leave aged 50

An M&S executive, widely tipped to become the company's next CEO, will be taking maternity leave at the end of the month at the age of 50.

Laura Wade-Gery will return to work early January, meaning she will only be off for four months. The news of her maternity break was seen as so important that the company notified the stock market.

Wade-Gery, the Executive Director of Multichannel, had been at the forefront of Marks and Spencer’s website overhaul. She also has the entire 800 UK store network among her responsibilities, the first time a woman is doing so. CFO Helen Weir will take over her responsibilities during Wade-Gery’s maternity leave.  

She joined Marks and Spencer from Tesco in 2011, and had been seen as Marc Bolland’s heir apparent. Sacha Berendji, Director of Retail, and David Walmsley, Director of M&S.com, will now report directly to Bolland.