Tonight:
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Marks & Spencer's food boss was tonight elevated to the board, renewing speculation he is being groomed to be the new chief executive.
Some analysts said current chief executive Sir Stuart Rose had long seen M&S "lifer" John Dixon as his favoured successor to the most high-profile job in British retail.
Oriel stockbrokers' retail analyst Eithne O'Leary said: "This appointment to the board increases the likelihood that he is a contender, for sure."
Dixon joined M&S as a management trainee in 1986 and worked his way up the business. He was employed in the company's European stores before heading to the London head office.
He replaced Steven Esom as head of food in summer 2008 following Esom's sudden departure in the wake of falling grocery sales. An M&S spokeswoman refused to comment on the succession process but pointed out that Esom had been on the board before he quit, so Dixon's move up the ladder marked the logical return to the boardroom of a food division head.
"Clearly, Stuart wanted to try him out for a year first before putting him on the board. But I've heard him talk in terms that suggest he wants Dixon to get the top job," said an analyst.
The succession to Sir Stuart is one of the most talked about issues in retailing. Sir Stuart irked investors by taking on his current position as executive chairman, straddling the roles as chairman and chief executive while a new CEO is found.
Some investors are keen to see an outsider such as Sainsbury's boss Justin King come in to run the business rather than having an internal appointment.
"It really wouldn't be ideal to have Stuart as chairman and his former executive assistant (Dixon) as chief executive," said one.
Dixon's new position puts him in the boardroom with rival candidates for the top job Steve Sharp, director of marketing, Ian Dyson, finance and operations director, and Kate Bostock, director of general merchandise.
Sir Stuart said: "Since becoming director of food, John and his team have greatly improved our food business, changed perceptions of our value and introduced a host of hugely popular innovations."
Non-executive director Steven Holliday was today appointed chairman of the remuneration committee, succeeding Louise Patten, under whose watch the company has come under fire over directors' pay. The remuneration committee has also been strengthened with the appointment of another non-executive, Jan du Plessis.
