M&S China boss fired

Marks and Spencer has fired its managing director in China, just three months after launching its flagship store in Shanghai.

Richard Sweet, who had been with M&S for more than 20 years, left after the retailer's disastrous debut, which has seen a multitude of complaints about the availability and range of products.

M&S opened a flagship 40,000 sq ft store on Shanghai's West Nanjing road, one of the city's most popular shopping streets, last October amid indifference from both Chinese and expatriate Westerners. The store was deserted during the key Christmas trading period.