M&S exec joins rival

MARKs & spencer’s most senior female executive has joined rival John Lewis.

Laura Wade-Gery, who was once regarded as ‘ heir apparent’ to ex-chief executive Marc Bolland, has joined the board of the department store as non-executive director. The 52-year-old was in charge of sales across M&s’s website, social networks and digital advertising campaigns, but went on maternity leave in August 2015 and did not return.