Marks and Spencer 1999 Annual Report Download - page 21

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MARKS AN D SPEN CER p.l.c.
REPO RT O F THE D IRECTO RS
DIRECTORS AND THEIR INTERESTS
The present directors are listed on page • of the Annual Review
and Summary Financial Statement.
The Chairman relinquished the role of Chief Executive on
31 January 1999 from which date he continues in office in a
non-executive capacity.
Mr P L Salsbury assumed the role of Chief Executive on
1 February 1999.
Mr J K O ates and Mr P P D Smith retired as executive directors
on 31 January 1999 and 31 March 1999 respectively; Mr D K Hayes,
Mr S J Sacher and Mr C Littmoden retire as executive directors on
31 May 1999.
In accordance with Article 85 of the Company’s Articles of
Association, • , • and • retire by rotation and, being eligible, offer
themselves for re-election. Brief biographical details are given on page
• of the Annual Review and Summary Financial Statement.
N o director seeking re-election has a Service Contract with
the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
The beneficial interests of the directors and their families in
the shares of the Company and its subsidiaries, together with their
interests as trustees of both charitable and other trusts, are given
on page • .
EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT
W e have maintained our commitment to employee involvement
throughout the business.
Staff are kept well informed of the performance and objectives
of the Group through personal briefings and regular meetings.
These are supplemented by our staff publications, St M ichael N ews
and M &S W orld, and video presentations.‘Focus teams’ in stores,
distribution centres and head office provide opportunities for staff
representatives to contribute to the everyday running of the business.
The fourth meeting of the European Council took place last July.
This council provides an additional forum for informing and consulting
employee representatives from the European countries in which
we trade.
D irectors and executives regularly visit stores and discuss, with
members of staff, matters of current interest and concern to the
business. Staff representatives attend the Annual General Meeting
and all members of staff have the Group results explained in
St M ichael N ews.
W e have long-established Employees’ Profit Sharing and
Savings-Related Share O ption Schemes, membership of which is
service-related.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The Group is committed to an active Equal O pportunities Policy from
recruitment and selection, through training and development, appraisal
and promotion to retirement.
It is our policy to promote an environment free from discrimination,
harassment and victimisation where everyone will receive equal
treatment regardless of gender, colour, ethnic or national origin,
disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation or religion.All decisions
relating to employment practices will be objective, free from bias
and based solely upon work criteria and individual merit.
The Company is responsive to the needs of its employees,
customers and the community at large and we are an organisation
that uses everyone’s talents and abilities to the full.
EMPLOYEES W ITH DISABILITIES
It is our policy that people with disabilities should have full and fair
consideration for all vacancies. D uring the year we continued to use
the Government’s “two tick” disability symbol to demonstrate our
commitment to interviewing those people with disabilities who
fulfil the minimum criteria, and endeavouring to retain staff in the
workforce if they become disabled during employment.W e will
actively retrain and adjust their environment where possible to
allow them to maximise their potential.
CHARITABLE AND POLITICAL CON TRIBUTIONS
D uring the year, we spent £• m in the UK in support of the
community.W ithin this, direct donations to charitable organisations
amounted to £• m. N o political contributions were made to any
political party.
ANN UAL GEN ERAL MEETING
The N otice of the Annual General Meeting to be held on • July 2000
(together with explanatory notes) is attached to your Form of Proxy.
By order of the Board
Sir Richard Greenbury, Chairman
London
• May 2000
ANNUAL REPORT AND FIN ANCIAL STATEMENTS 1999