Marks & Spencer has appointed British Airways chairman and chief executive officer Sean Doyle as a non-executive director, effective 1 December 2025, as the retailer continues a board refresh linked to its Reshaping for Growth strategy.

M&S said Doyle “represents an iconic British brand with extraordinary public exposure,” noting his experience leading a large, operationally complex business. He will join the audit & risk and nomination committees on taking up the role, according to a company statement dated 12 November 2025.

Archie Norman, chair of M&S, welcomed the appointment and highlighted Doyle’s operating track record. “We are delighted to have one of the UK’s leading serving chief executives join our board. M&S is the most public of public companies, and Sean will bring great leadership and strong operating skills to M&S as we prepare for the next phase of reshaping,” Norman said.

Doyle described British Airways as “Britain’s flag carrier” and framed M&S as a brand of comparable national significance. “Being the CEO of Britain’s flag carrier is a very special job, as you are the custodian of a brand which is part of the fabric of the country. Not many brands can equal that, but M&S certainly can,” he said. “I am privileged to be joining a Board focused on ‘protecting the magic’ of the brand as it modernises the business through the Reshaping for Growth strategy and look forward to supporting the next phase.”

The appointment follows confirmation that former Asda chief executive Roger Burnley will also join the board on 1 December and that Norman’s tenure as chair has been extended, as part of a wider renewal plan. M&S said this refresh supports the next phase of its strategy, which has focused on strengthening food and clothing, reworking store estates, and sharpening customer service.

The move also comes 18 months after Norman criticised BA’s performance on X, posting in May 2024 that several flights had been cancelled and calling it “sad to see a great airline deteriorate.” The posts were later deleted. Reflecting on that episode, Norman said: “I’m glad to say there has been an improvement in punctuality in the flights to Glasgow since that episode. Having Sean on our board means that I will not need to go through X to make my views known — and I’m sure there’s much we can learn from each other about customer service.”

British Airways previously sold M&S-branded food to short-haul economy passengers after ending complimentary meals in 2017, before switching to products from chef Tom Kerridge in 2021.

M&S said there was no further information to disclose under UK Listing Rule 6.4.8(R).

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