Mehdi Hosseini becomes first Marks and Spencer head of data science

Marks and Spencer has made Mehdi Hosseini its first ever head of data science as part of its drive to become a digital-first business.

Hosseini has held such roles as lead data scientist at Sky as well as research posts at Cambridge University and Microsoft. He will oversee a team of 20 people who are currently being recruited, and will report to M&S Chief Digital and Data Officer Jeremy Pee.

Under pressure

M&S recently notched up an unenviable first as it was demoted from the FTSE 100, of which it was a founding member.

Relegation to the FTSE 250 followed various failed turnaround plans. Like many of its high street counterparts, the retailer has struggled to adapt, respond to, and capture a bigger share of spending among digitally-empowered consumers, according to Manu Tyagi, Associate Partner for Retail and Consumer Goods at Infosys Consulting. But all is not lost, he believes. Further details here.

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