Another blow for M&S as director of lingerie leaves firm

The retailer’s director of lingerie and beauty Janie Schaffer has left the company, putting it under pressure following another fall in underlying sales at its general merchandise arm, which includes fashion and home.

At the time of her appointment chief executive Marc Bolland said: “We have been able to establish a team that combines the best of M&S experience with exciting, new, external talent.”

Ms Schaffer was working on the group’s Autumn/Winter collections which will come out in July.

She joined M&S from upmarket US lingerie chain Victoria’s Secret where she was chief creative officer responsible for all clothing, lingerie and beauty products.

When her appointment was announced, M&S said: “Janie has a stellar retail pedigree which includes the launch and ownership of the Knickerbox brand.”

It is understood that Ms Schaffer resigned last week. A spokeswoman confirmed she has left the company.

Ms Schaffer was dubbed ‘The Knicker Queen’ following her launch of Knickerbox in 1986. Her resignation follows the departure of M&S’s head of clothing Kate Bostock who left to join online fashion retailer ASOS last year.

Last week M&S said clothing sales remained under pressure, with the cold weather and weak consumer confidence forcing it to increase promotions in March.

Like-for-like general merchandise sales fell 3.8 per cent in the 13 weeks to March 30.

Last week Mr Bolland, who is under increasing pressure to revive the clothing business, said a new fashion management team had started to deliver improvements in terms of stock availability and management.

The departure of Ms Schaffer will come as an untimely blow.