Stuart Rose
Encyclopedia
Sir Stuart Alan Ransom Rose (born 17 March 1949) is a British
businessman
, who was the executive chairman of the British retailer Marks & Spencer
. For this role he was paid an annual salary of £1,130,000. Following the appointment of Marc Bolland
in May 2010, Rose stepped down as executive chairman at the end of July 2010 and remained as Chairman until early 2011 when he was replaced by Robert Swannell. He was knighted in 2008 for his services to the retail industry.
émigrés who fled to China
after the 1917 revolution. Their son, Rose's father, was unofficially adopted by an English Quaker spinster, who offered to take him to safety in England as war loomed. The original family name was Bryantzeff, which Rose's father, ex-RAF and civil servant, changed. His mother's side is English, Scottish and Greek. The young family lived in a caravan
in Warwickshire
until Rose senior obtained a posting with the Imperial Civil Service in Tanganyika (now Tanzania
). Rose went to the Roman Catholic St Joseph's Convent School in Dar es Salaam
until he was 11. When he was 13 years old his family returned to England and his parents sent him to Bootham School
, an independent Quaker boarding school
in York
. His first job was as an administration assistant at the BBC
.
in 1972, as a management trainee. Rose remained with Marks & Spencer
until 1989, when he joined the Burton Group as Chief Executive in 1994. The Burton Group demerged, forming the Arcadia
and Debenhams
businesses.
In 1997, he joined Argos
as Chief Executive, where he was charged with defending the company against a takeover bid from the home shopping giant, Great Universal Stores (GUS). Ultimately, GUS did succeed in taking control of Argos, although Rose was widely praised for negotiating an increased price for the retailer.
In a turbulent time in its history, Rose became the Chief Executive of Booker plc, where he oversaw the merger of the company with Iceland
to form the Big Food Group.
Rose joined the Arcadia Group
in 2000 as Chief Executive and left in 2002 following its acquisition. Rose turned around the fortunes of the Arcadia Group
, and sold the group for over £800m, netting himself around £25m as part of the deal.
He was appointed to the position of Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer
in May 2004 at the age of 56 and subsequently fought off several takeover bids by Philip Green
for the Group. Rose appeared to be rejuvenating the Marks & Spencer
Group as he did at Arcadia. In January 2007, he was named the "2006 Business Leader of the Year" by the World Leadership Forum
for his efforts in restoring the fortunes of Marks and Spencer. He was knighted
in the 2008 New Year Honours
and was appointed Chairman of Business in the Community
on 1 January 2008.
On 10 March 2008, it was reported that Rose was to become Executive Chairman of Marks & Spencer from 1 June 2008. However, in the light of a recent profits warning, which sparked an unprecedented thirty per cent-plus plunge in the company's shares, this appointment caused some concern to many shareholders. Nevertheless, they voted to re-appoint him at their annual meeting on 9 July 2008.
He stepped down as Chief Executive in May 2010, as Executive Chairman in July 2010, and as Chairman in January 2011 following the appointment of Robert Swannell.
On 19 January 2011 Rose was appointed as a non-executive director of Woolworths Holdings Ltd, a large South African retail group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
's. He had also pledged to reduce non-glass wastage by 25% and plastic
carrier bag usage by 33% in the near future.
Rose lives in central London
and Suffolk
. He married Jennifer Cook in 1973 in St Marylebone
; the couple have a son and daughter. After they separated, Rose lived with fashion writer Kate Reardon
. After separating from Reardon in 2009, and stepping down from his positions at M&S, Rose and Jennifer divorced in 2010.
On 16 July 2010, Rose was honored by the University of Leeds
, receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLB) from the same university and venue from which his son graduated.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
businessman
Businessperson
A businessperson is someone involved in a particular undertaking of activities for the purpose of generating revenue from a combination of human, financial, or physical capital. An entrepreneur is an example of a business person...
, who was the executive chairman of the British retailer Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
. For this role he was paid an annual salary of £1,130,000. Following the appointment of Marc Bolland
Marc Bolland
Marc Bolland is a Dutch businessman, who is the current CEO of Marks and Spencer Group plc. and has been noted to be one of the most influential people in business for 2010-Biography:...
in May 2010, Rose stepped down as executive chairman at the end of July 2010 and remained as Chairman until early 2011 when he was replaced by Robert Swannell. He was knighted in 2008 for his services to the retail industry.
Early life
Rose’s grandparents were White RussianWhite Emigre
A white émigré was a Russian who emigrated from Russia in the wake of the Russian Revolution and Russian Civil War, and who was in opposition to the contemporary Russian political climate....
émigrés who fled to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
after the 1917 revolution. Their son, Rose's father, was unofficially adopted by an English Quaker spinster, who offered to take him to safety in England as war loomed. The original family name was Bryantzeff, which Rose's father, ex-RAF and civil servant, changed. His mother's side is English, Scottish and Greek. The young family lived in a caravan
Travel trailer
A travel trailer or caravan is towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent . It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places...
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
until Rose senior obtained a posting with the Imperial Civil Service in Tanganyika (now Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
). Rose went to the Roman Catholic St Joseph's Convent School in Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
until he was 11. When he was 13 years old his family returned to England and his parents sent him to Bootham School
Bootham School
Bootham School is an independent Quaker boarding school in the city of York in North Yorkshire, England. It was founded by the Religious Society of Friends in 1823. It is close to York Minster. The current headmaster is Jonathan Taylor. The school's motto Membra Sumus Corporis Magni means "We...
, an independent Quaker boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
. His first job was as an administration assistant at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Career
Rose first joined Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
in 1972, as a management trainee. Rose remained with Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
until 1989, when he joined the Burton Group as Chief Executive in 1994. The Burton Group demerged, forming the Arcadia
Arcadia Group
The Arcadia Group Limited a British company that owns the high street clothing retailers Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop, Wallis and BHS, and the out of town chain Outfit, which sells lines from the other group chains...
and Debenhams
Debenhams
Debenhams plc is a British retailer operating under a department store format in the UK, Ireland and Denmark, and franchise stores in other countries. The Company was founded in the eighteenth century as a single store in London and has now grown to around 160 shops...
businesses.
In 1997, he joined Argos
Argos (retailer)
Argos is the largest general-goods retailer in the United Kingdom and Ireland with over 800 stores. It is unique amongst major retailers in the UK in that it is a catalogue merchant...
as Chief Executive, where he was charged with defending the company against a takeover bid from the home shopping giant, Great Universal Stores (GUS). Ultimately, GUS did succeed in taking control of Argos, although Rose was widely praised for negotiating an increased price for the retailer.
In a turbulent time in its history, Rose became the Chief Executive of Booker plc, where he oversaw the merger of the company with Iceland
Iceland (supermarket)
Iceland is a supermarket chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Iceland's primary product lines include frozen foods, such as frozen prepared meals and frozen vegetables - hence the name of the company...
to form the Big Food Group.
Rose joined the Arcadia Group
Arcadia Group
The Arcadia Group Limited a British company that owns the high street clothing retailers Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop, Wallis and BHS, and the out of town chain Outfit, which sells lines from the other group chains...
in 2000 as Chief Executive and left in 2002 following its acquisition. Rose turned around the fortunes of the Arcadia Group
Arcadia Group
The Arcadia Group Limited a British company that owns the high street clothing retailers Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Topman, Topshop, Wallis and BHS, and the out of town chain Outfit, which sells lines from the other group chains...
, and sold the group for over £800m, netting himself around £25m as part of the deal.
He was appointed to the position of Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
in May 2004 at the age of 56 and subsequently fought off several takeover bids by Philip Green
Philip Green
Sir Philip Green is a British businessman. Green was born into a Jewish family in 1952, beginning as a businessman at the age of 15. The first and last quoted company Green took lead of was "Amber Day", from which he stepped down as CEO and Chairman in 1992...
for the Group. Rose appeared to be rejuvenating the Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
Group as he did at Arcadia. In January 2007, he was named the "2006 Business Leader of the Year" by the World Leadership Forum
World Leadership Forum
The Leadership Forum, The Leadership Forum, The Leadership Forum, (previously the world leadership forum a non-governmental organisation devoted to the development of leadership in a number of key areas including communication, education and policy, operated from October 2000 to October 2008....
for his efforts in restoring the fortunes of Marks and Spencer. He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2008 New Year Honours
New Year Honours 2008
The New Year Honours 2008 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 29 December 2007, to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 2008....
and was appointed Chairman of Business in the Community
Business in the Community
Business in the Community is a British business-community outreach charity promoting responsible business, CSR, corporate responsibility, and is one of the Prince's Charities of Charles, Prince of Wales....
on 1 January 2008.
On 10 March 2008, it was reported that Rose was to become Executive Chairman of Marks & Spencer from 1 June 2008. However, in the light of a recent profits warning, which sparked an unprecedented thirty per cent-plus plunge in the company's shares, this appointment caused some concern to many shareholders. Nevertheless, they voted to re-appoint him at their annual meeting on 9 July 2008.
He stepped down as Chief Executive in May 2010, as Executive Chairman in July 2010, and as Chairman in January 2011 following the appointment of Robert Swannell.
On 19 January 2011 Rose was appointed as a non-executive director of Woolworths Holdings Ltd, a large South African retail group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
Marks & Spencer's 'Plan A' policy
As the company chairman, Rose was personally committed to further promoting green issues and the recycling of plastic bottles at Marks & SpencerMarks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
's. He had also pledged to reduce non-glass wastage by 25% and plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
carrier bag usage by 33% in the near future.
Personal life
When Rose was 26 years old his mother committed suicide at the age of 49 by taking an overdose combined with alcohol. She had a history of depression. He sees his elderly father every month for lunch out.Rose lives in central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
. He married Jennifer Cook in 1973 in St Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
; the couple have a son and daughter. After they separated, Rose lived with fashion writer Kate Reardon
Kate Reardon
Kate Reardon is a British journalist, the current editor of Tatler magazine.-Early life:Reardon was born to London architect Patrick Reardon in New York. Her education, however, was 'thoroughly British', attending Garden House, Bute House, Cheltenham Ladies' College and Stowe School...
. After separating from Reardon in 2009, and stepping down from his positions at M&S, Rose and Jennifer divorced in 2010.
On 16 July 2010, Rose was honored by the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLB) from the same university and venue from which his son graduated.
External links
- Marks and Spencer website
- Mvumi School Trust, of which Rose is a Trustee.