Katherine Haenelt

Marks & Spencer has appointed ABP sales and marketing director Katharine Haenelt as its first head of trading for meat, fish, poultry and dairy.

The move came as part of a restructure of the retailer’s food operations, with the M&S aiming to better its pricing, availability and NPD offer by taking on specialists.

Haenelt is set to join M&S on 6 September after seven years with red meat specialist ABP where she held a number of senior positions, before being promoted to sales and marketing director in 2016.

M&S’ current head of trading for fresh produce, Liz Taylor, is set to take charge of produce, deli and horticulture.

It follows the appointment of former Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s executive Stuart Machin as MD of food in April, with the remit to revive the retailer’s food business.

“Our goal is to transform our food business by protecting the best of M&S Food and modernising the rest,” said Machin.

“Improving our fresh food offer is key to this and protein and dairy is an important category. Katharine has unrivalled experience of the meat and dairy industry and we will put her expertise and knowledge to work as part of our transformation plans.”