Daily Front Row

2012 November 6

Marks & Spencer Poaches "The Knicker Queen" From Victoria's Secret

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Janie Schaffer
Patrick McMullan View Gallery

(NEW YORK) Marks & Spencer has tapped Janie Schaffer, the former chief creative officer at Victoria's Secret, as its new director of lingerie and beauty. Aptly nicknamed "The Knicker Queen," Schaffer will be replacing Frances Russell, who has been promoted to director of womenswear. Schaffer's cheeky moniker stems from her roles as co-founder of U.K. lingerie chain Knickerbox circa 1986. But this isn't Schaffer's first stint at Marks & Spencer: the Brit was a buyer at the department store from 1984 to 1986. Most recently, Schaffer has spent the past five years at Victoria's Secret. 

A series of recent M&S appointments has also taken place, according to Telegraph UK: Chief executive Marc Bolland recently moved John Dixon from head of food to lead general merchandise and brought in Belinda Earl, the former chief executive of Debenhams, as style director. 
ASHLEY TSCHUDIN