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Sharp's appointment to the executive committee casts doubt on the future of Alice Avis, M&S' marketing chief for the past two years.

Sharp, a former colleague of Rose at Arcadia, joins from Allders, where he was a marketing consultant. He left Arcadia as group marketing director in December 2002, following the fashion group's takeover by Philip Green.

As one of the UK's most experienced retail marketers, having also worked at Asda and Debenhams, Sharp has been linked to a role alongside Rose in the past.

The reshuffle at M&S was sparked at the weekend when chief executive Roger Holmes was axed.

A spokeswoman for M&S insisted that Avis still held the top marketing post, but would not comment on how Sharp's appointment would affect the marketing department.

One analyst said Sharp's relationship with Rose in terms of developing future strategy put a question mark over Avis' role.

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