Bond says no to M&S role
ASDA chief executive Andy Bond yesterday ruled himself out of the running for the top job at high street retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S).
Bond said: “I am not interested. I am not going to M&S. End of story.”
M&S has said it will appoint a new chief executive next year, with Sir Stuart Rose stepping down as chairman by July 2011.
Bond’s comments have been taken by observers as a further sign that the chief executive is likely to come from within Marks & Spencer.
M&S food boss John Dixon, who was recently promoted to the executive board, and finance director Ian Dyson are both widely tipped for the job.
Bond yesterday outlined his vision for Asda at the London Chamber of Commerce, saying the retailer would respond to consumers who wanted more openness and transparency.
Bond said that in the future shoppers would be more closely involved in choosing the supermarket’s lines, allowing customers to trace the journey of products.
He also said the firm was using live web cams in stores, headquarters and factories, declaring he had “nothing to hide” and saying he was an “advocate of transparency”.
He also gave a stinging verdict on rival supermarket Tesco’s recent re-launch of its club card saying: “Trust can’t be bought by plastic loyalty cards and money off vouchers. It takes more than that