M&S executive Laura Wade-Gery extends maternity leave to a full year

A top Marks & Spencer executive has decided to extend her maternity leave from four months to a full year.

Laura Wade-Gery, who runs the multi-channel division, will now return on September 1 instead of early January.

Until her return finance chief Helen Weir will maintain responsibility for e-commerce distribution, and Sacha Berendji,director of retail, and David Walmsley, director of M&S.com, will continue to report to Chief Executive Marc Bolland.

M&S said in August that Wade-Gery, 50, would spend four months on maternity leave.

The announcement made national headlines, raising questions about equality in the workplace.