Marks & Spencer Welcomes Alison Dolan in the Role of CFO

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has announced Alison Dolan as its new Chief Financial Officer, following the retailer’s impressive profit performance and the declaration of its first yearly dividend since 2019. Dolan, transitioning from her role at the real estate portal Rightmove, will succeed interim CFO Jeremy Townsend, who will remain in the position until May 2025. The exact start date for Dolan is yet to be determined.

Townsend was appointed interim CFO in November 2022 during a period of significant business challenges for M&S. However, the retailer recently reported its strongest financial health since 1997 and forecasted continued growth.

Before her current role at Rightmove, Dolan held positions at News UK and Sky Plc. Rightmove has confirmed that Dolan has a twelve-month notice period, and her departure date will be set once a new CFO is appointed.

M&S CEO Stuart Machin praised Dolan as a valuable addition to the leadership team, highlighting her extensive experience in fast-paced, digitally led businesses, which is expected to be instrumental in the next phase of transforming M&S.

Marks & Spencer’s latest financial results showed a 58% increase in annual profit, surpassing market expectations. The company reported a profit before tax and adjusting items of around $910,4 million for the year ending March 30, significantly higher than the approximate $576,1 million achieved in the previous year. The strong performance was driven by robust sales growth in both the food and clothing divisions.

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