Marks & Spencer’s tech chief resigns after £300m cyber attack

The head of tech at Marks & Spencer has quit just months after a cyber attack cost it hundreds of millions of pounds. Rachel Higham (pictured), the retailer’s chief digital and technology officer, stood down this week after little more than a year in the job. Sources said she was taking a ‘career break’.

In a note to staff yesterday, M&S chief executive Stuart Machin said: ‘Having steered the digital and technology team through a challenging six months, Rachel Higham has decided to take a break and is stepping back from her role. ‘Rachel has been a steady hand and calm head at an extraordinary time for the business, and we wish her well for the future.’

Higham was formerly an executive at WPP and BT Group before joining M&S in July 2024. Operations director Sacha Berendji, who has been ‘chief recovery officer’ since the attack, will take over her responsibilities.

Machin added: ‘Under Sacha’s leadership, I am confident that we will accelerate the digital and technology plan and ensure we are set up to deliver our biggest and best-ever Christmas peak.’ Four individuals, including three teenagers, were bailed pending further enquiries in July after the cyber attack over Easter. The personal data of millions of customers, which could have included names, email addresses, postal addresses and dates of birth, was stolen.

This sent shoppers to competitors, including Next, which sells many of the same third-party brands online. M&S expects a £300million dent to profits this year. But boss Machin has described the hack as a ‘bump in the road’ and said it will not halt a revival at the business.

Other retailers, including the Co-op and Harrods, were targeted by the same group over the spring. And in recent days, the shadowy gang of cyber criminals has claimed to be behind an attack on the production lines of Jaguar Land Rover. English-speaking hackers, who refer to themselves as ‘Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters’ and ‘Scattered Spider’, have taunted the company on social media, saying: ‘Where is my new car, Land Rover?’