Derek Rayner, Baron Rayner

The Right Honourable The Lord Rayner
Born	30 March 1926(1926-03-30)
Died	26 June 1998(1998-06-26) (aged 72)
Occupation	Chairman, Marks & Spencer

Derek George Rayner, Baron Rayner (30 March 1926 - 26 June 1998) was a chairman and chief executive of Marks & Spencer plc (now generally known as M&S), one of the major British retailers who revived and rapidly expanded the company in the 1980s. He began working for the company in 1953 as a management trainee^[1] and became the first chief executive outside the founding families of the company.^[2]

Career

Marks & Spencer

Rayner began working for M&S as a management trainee 1953 at the company's store in Oxford^[2] when the company's then chairman, Lord Marcus Sieff, asked his advice about a problem. He rose rapidly in the company's management and became a director in 1967.

By the 1980s the company's trademark, "St. Michael", was outdated and the company sales of clothing and household goods went into decline.^[1] Rayner restored the company by holding down costs and encouraging enterprise by employees. He also introduced strict financial controls, refurbishment of the larger stores and additional expansion. In 1988 under his control the company bought the Brooks Brothers clothing company of Canada for $750m, introduced a store charge card and opened more British stores.

Government

His tight financial controls and strong management practices at M&S led to him working for the British Government headed by Edward Heath, serving in a variety of posts. From 1970-73 he arranged for the three British military services to use a single procurement office, the MoD Procurement Executive.^[1]

He also advised Margaret Thatcher on improving Government efficiency, including reducing the number of meetings officials held.

He returned to M&S in 1982. In 1984 he became the first person from outside the founding families to become chief executive.

Personal life

In 1973 he was knighted for his government work and in 1983 he was given a life peerage as Baron Rayner, of Crowborough in the County of East Sussex. He was a bachelor with no known dependents.^[1][3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} New York Times obituary, 12 July 1998
2. ^ ^{a b} "Marks in Time" website includes picture
3. ^ "The Rise and Fall of M&S" - BBC report 28 September 2001

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Name	Rayner, Derek Rayner, Baron
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Date of birth	30 March 1926
Place of birth
Date of death	26 June 1998
Place of death