Marks & Spencer has enlisted the services of former Safeway chief executive Carlos Criado-Perez for its ambitious expansion plans for the Far East.

The Times reports that the Argentinian has drawn up research notes on Taiwan for the high street retailer, following a report on China that he was believed to have handed to chief executive Stuart Rose in the Spring.

M&S announced four weeks ago that it wanted to double the size of its international business within five years.