KRGV.com

LONDON (AP) U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer is shaking up its management team following a 7 percent drop in clothing and general merchandise sales in the three months to June 30.

The company said Tuesday that Kate Bostock, the executive director for general merchandise, will leave the company on Oct. 1 by mutual consent. John Dixon, now in charge of food, will replace her, and Belinda Earl, former CEO of Debenhams, Jaeger and Aquascutum, will join Dixon's team as style director.

M&S also announced that Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne, a former group president of Estee Lauder, will join the company on Sept. 1 as director of strategy implementation and business development.

In the quarter, M&S group sales were down 0.7 percent. Excluding new stores and expansions, U.K. food sales rose 0.6 percent.