M&S Technology Chief Departs Amidst Post-Cyber Attack Fallout

Another of Marks & Spencer's (M&S) most senior technology executives is leaving the company less than a year after its operations were devastated by a cyber attack. Sky News has learnt that Josie Smith, the retailer's chief technology officer, is stepping down just 18 months after joining the company. Her departure was disclosed internally this week in a memo which said she had "decided to leave M&S". Ms Smith, who previously worked at BT Group and Vodafone, will be replaced by Darren Gibson, the fashion, home and beauty technology transformation director. Her exit comes four months after Rachel Higham, M&S's chief digital and technology officer, left the business. Last year's cyber attack cost M&S hundreds of millions of pounds and underlined the extent to which leading British companies are now vulnerable to widespread disruption from hackers. The April incident, which was conducted by a group called Scattered Spider, brought its online operations to a halt for weeks. Earlier this month, it reported a fall in like-for-like clothing sales during the crucial Christmas trading period, which it partly blamed on "the long tail" effects of the cyber attack. Monday's internal memo also said that Krista Nordlund, M&S's chief product officer, would leave the company in July to return to the US. Be the first to get Breaking News Install the Sky News app for free An M&S spokeswoman confirmed the contents of the memo.