UK retail veteran Katie Bickerstaffe in talks to join M&S board

Outgoing UK and Ireland chief executive of retailer Dixons Carphone, Katie Bickerstaffe, is in discussion with Marks & Spencer about joining the firm's board, Sky News reported on Saturday, as its chairman tries to bolster a board lacking in retail expertise.

Sources said Bickerstaffe's appointment was likely to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The move forms part of a planned overhaul of M&‎S's board by Archie Norman, the company's new chairman, who is keen for its crop of non-executives to have more direct experience of a fast-changing retail industry.

According to another source, the appointment looks to bump up the number of females on the board. 

Following the recent exit of chief financial officer Helen Weir, M&S has just one female non-executive - Whitbread chief executive Alison Brittain - and a female company secretary on a nine-member board when Humphrey Singer, Weir's replacement, arrives from Dixons Carphone later this year.

Dixons Carphone said in April that Katie Bickerstaffe would be leaving the company.

A spokesman at the firm did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment sent by Reuters. 

Marks & Spencer could not be immediately reached for comment.