Asda chief executive Andy Bond has categorically ruled himself out of the race to head up Marks & Spencer stating: “Why would I bother?”
Bond, along with Sainsbury’s boss Justin King, had headed the speculation over who would replace Sir Stuart Rose as chief executive of M&S next year.
But first King, and now Bond, have ruled themselves out of the running to become M&S’s top dog leaving head of food John Dixon the favourite to the land the job closely followed by finance director Ian Dyson and head of clothing Kate Bostock if the retailer opts internally.
Bond said: "I am not interested ... I am not going to M&S. End of story…I can categorically say I'm not going to M&S. I'm very happy doing what I'm doing.
"This is a never. I know that speculation, I'm somewhat frustrated, to be honest, about that speculation but I can be very clear, most importantly to the colleagues who work at Asda, I love what I'm doing and I'm staying."
Bond also said it was not a matter of money, no matter how much: "There's a lot more to having an enjoyable career than money and you know I've got a great career and I'm reasonably well paid. Why would I bother?"
