STEVE ROWE, 54: SCUBA DIVER WITH A SPARK FOR RETAIL

FAMILY: Married with four children.

LIVES: Chislehurst in Kent.

HOBBIES: Scuba diving is his biggest passion. Golf and watching Millwall Football Club. He says he’s a fan ‘through and through’.

FAVOURITE FILM: The Italian Job.

MUSIC: The Clash and Tom Brennan.

BOOK: The Richer Way by Julian Richer.

CAREER: Began as a Saturday boy at M&S’s Croydon store in South London aged 15. Joined Topshop as a trainee when he left school at 18. Four years later he was a store manager, but defected to join M&S. Made chief executive in 2016.

HIGHS: Took M&S groceries online in a joint venture with Ocado Retail, now provides food to 2,800 Costa coffee outlets, and revamped clothing and home business. Bought fashion brand Jaeger.

LOWS: In 2019, M&S fell out of the FTSE 100 index. Closed more than 60 stores, and In 2020 recorded first ever loss of £87.6 million.