Trouble at the top for Marks & Spencer

MARKS & Spencer is believed to have appointed headhunters to find a possible replacement for Vittorio Radice, the director in charge of its Lifestore business, amid rumours of a rift at the top.

According to company sources, Radice, who joined M&S from Selfridges to launch the Lifestore concept of furniture and homeware, is frustrated by the cumbersome-bureaucracy and has been linked to the top job at Gucci.

But chief executive Roger Holmes has persuaded him to stay with the promise of a wider role at M&S. By agreeing to remain to oversee this month's launch of M&S's first stand-alone Lifestyle store in Gateshead, Radice was promised responsibility for new large and medium-sized department stores.

Headhunters have been briefed to find a home retail expert to replace Radice. M&S is already hunting for a head of clothing.

One senior retailer, who asked not to be named, claimed to have been approached by headhunters before Christmas.