// Marks & Spencer hires Next head of digital trading as head of optimisation and analytics
// Gemma Lumsden will join the newly-created role on Monday
// She will report into M&S online director Stephen Langford
Marks & Spencer has reportedly poached Next head of digital trading Gemma Lumsden for the newly created role of head of optimisation and analytics.
She will report into Stephen Langford, who joined the business as director of M&S.com in May.
Lumsden will join M&S on Monday and will be responsible for leading the analytics, website optimisation and SEO teams as well as ensuring M&S.com offers “a cohesive and consistent” experience, Retail Week reported.
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The embattled retailer plans to drive online growth with the new appointment.
Lumsden has served as Next’s head of digital trading since February 2019, having spent the previous three years at health giant Holland & Barrett in a similar role.
Prior to that, she spent almost five years at George at Big 4 supermarket Asda.
M&S’s ‘Never the Same Again’ strategy will also help support the company’s ecommerce performance.
The retailer is seeking to grow its online business, which is a “critical” part of the plan given that customers have shifted towards online shopping due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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