Marks & Spencer is aiming to ramp up its digital, data and tech strategy with the appointment of a new chief digital and technology officer.
John Hunt joins from Woolworths Australia, where he has served as chief information officer and managing director of group enablement.
He will succeed Rachel Higham, who left in September and then joined cybersecurity specialist Xiid; operations director Sacha Berendji has been carrying out her duties in the interim and will remain on the executive committee until April 2027 to support the transition.
Hunt has spent more than 30 years at the Australian retailer, holding a range of senior roles across the business. He brings extensive experience of leading digital and technology teams across large-scale retail operations in Australia and South Africa.
M&S said Hunt will spend his first four weeks in stores to immerse himself in the business before beginning his handover with Berendji, who will continue to lead M&S’ property and store development function during the transition period.
M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said on LinkedIn: “Sacha is a loyal, hardworking, trusted colleague and one of the most company-minded people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
“All of us at M&S turn to him for advice, support and that extra bit of wisdom. He will remain a part of the M&S family forever. Everyone at M&S offers a heartfelt thank you to Sacha, and a warm welcome to John.”
Berendji has worked at M&S for more than 32 years and said the retailer “runs through my blood”, adding: “It’s the best brand in the country and in my view the best retailer in the world.
“I think the leadership and the clarity of our strategy is stronger now than it has ever been and I’m very confident about the future of M&S.”
In April, the retailer revamped its Sparks loyalty scheme once again as part of a £200m tech upgrade, designed to shift towards an AI-powered, digital-first approach focused on personalised offers, partner rewards, and weekly offers.
The move is part of a major “digital first” transformation strategy, which was significantly accelerated following its cyberattack in early 2025.
The company’s goal is to reshape itself into an agile, data-driven retailer where digital capabilities are at the heart of both customer experience and internal operations.
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