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Sir Richard defends Marks & Spencer role

Nigel Cope,City Editor
Tuesday 22 August 2000 00:00 BST
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Sir Richard Greenbury, the former chairman of Marks & Spencer, has denied that his autocratic style may have been a contributory factor in M&S's downfall. In a wide-ranging interview with John Humphrys, broadcast on BBC Radio 4's On the Ropes series this morning, Sir Richard gave an impassioned defence of his role at M&S. He also questioned several policies being pursued by the current management team, though he stopped short of openly criticising their performance.

Sir Richard Greenbury, the former chairman of Marks & Spencer, has denied that his autocratic style may have been a contributory factor in M&S's downfall. In a wide-ranging interview with John Humphrys, broadcast on BBC Radio 4's On the Ropes series this morning, Sir Richard gave an impassioned defence of his role at M&S. He also questioned several policies being pursued by the current management team, though he stopped short of openly criticising their performance.

Asked whether he had been running the company too long by the time the problems emerged two years ago, Sir Richard said: "I would strenuously deny that I was autocratic. What I would say is that I was extremely demanding ... I was like any chairman. I had strong views and if could persuade people of my views then obviously I tried to do so but frequently I couldn't and when I couldn't I always backed down." Questioned on whether M&S would ever regain the position it once held, Sir Richard said: "Do I think in the foreseeable future it will go back to making those kind of returns [of £1bn] ... then the answer is I think it's extremely unlikely."

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