Marks and Spencer appoints Rightmove’s Alison Dolan as its new finance chief

 Marks and Spencer appointed a new finance chief last night in another fillip for the High Street chain.

Rightmove chief financial officer Alison Dolan said she was thrilled to be part of reshaping the business as it ploughs ahead with its turnaround plan.

‘I’m delighted to be joining M&S, Stuart, and the leadership team at such an exciting time for the business,’ Dolan said. ‘As a customer shopping at Marks and Spencer I’ve always loved the brand.’

‘The scale and pace of change are significant – and there are so many great opportunities ahead,’ she added.

Dolan will replace interim finance boss Jeremy Townsend in May next year after five years at the online estate agents.

Her CV also includes stints at The Times newspaper publisher News UK and Sky.

Chief executive Stuart Machin said: ‘We are fortunate to attract somebody of Alison’s calibre who will be a fantastic addition to the leadership team and with so much experience in fast paced, digitally led businesses, she will help us in this next phase of transforming M&S.’

After years of its fashion lines being derided as ‘dowdy’, the retailer has bolstered its credentials and managed to entice new and younger shoppers.

It has also swung back into style – thanks to star-studded partnerships, including actress Sienna Miller and the Ted Lasso TV star Hannah Waddingham.

In the clearest sign yet that its revival plan is paying off, last week the High Street stalwart said that profits jumped 58 per cent to £716million in the year to the end of March.

And boss Machin declared that the company is in its ‘strongest financial health’ for more than a quarter of a century.