Radice Heads up M&S Furnishings Business

Italian Vittorio Radice has joined Marks & Spencer as head of its home furnishings business. Well respected for his turning Selfridges into a modern and glitzy department store, M&S is hoping for a similar turnaround in their Furnishings division.

In an interview with Sue Lawley on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Radice confirmed to the listener he had not lost his modern touch and chose an interesting array of music ranging from Cuban Buena Vista Social Club to Pink Floyd to African/French artist Youssou N'Dour.

Mr Radice stated that it had not been an easy decision to leave Selfridges: "You work hard, see something take shape and is successful and everybody recognises it, but you want a different challenge." He further commented that change was a very important part of life. "We need to learn how to live with that as change is everything, learning, progressing."

His unique management style is "about facing the problem and taking the decision as the problem comes, having that ability and confidence to make that decision." Not everything needs to be decided three years in advance.

Mr Radice said he had no plans to become chief executive of M&S and described his new job as "a fantastic adventure" but cautioned that there would be no quick win.