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The company announced yesterday that she would not be returning to her position after her maternity leave concludes at the end of September.

Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, executive director of marketing will continue to oversee M&S.com. Helen Weir, the company’s chief financial officer, will continue to manage logistics, and Sacha Berendji, director of retail, will manage bricks and mortar stores after Wade-Gery's departure.

Wade-Gery was hired by former chief executive Marc Bolland from Tesco and appointed to the M&S board in 2011.

Steve Rowe, who succeeded Bolland as chief executive this year, said: "Laura has been a great colleague and has achieved much in her role heading our multi-channel business."

Wade-Gery said: "I have had five very happy years at M&S. I’ve been away from the business for a year now, and that time has seen some significant changes in both my personal life and in the business. I concluded that the time was right to move on from M&S. I wish Steve and all my colleagues and friends every success."