"Who?" I hear you ask. Why, the chairman of HMV, of course. Follows, doesn't it? HMV ... M&S ... The 59-year-old will earn an annual salary of £450,000. He will take over the role from Sir Stuart Rose from January next year.
Rather good at blending into the background
Mr Swannell spent 30 years at Schroders (later Citigroup), where he advised M&S on its defence of a hostile takeover bid by Topshop owner Sir Philip Green [oh, good man]. "He knows his way around M&S, retail and the City. Sure, he's not as big a personality as Sir Stuart, but he is just as competent and that's what counts," said Neil Saunders, a director at Verdict research [who?]. His background in doing deals has prompted some to suggest M&S either plans an acquisition or sees itself as a takeover target.
