Luc Vandevelde, who has led the dramatic turnaround at Marks & Spencer, is expected to announce this week he will switch to a part-time role.
The 51-year-old Belgian chairman and chief executive is expected to reveal his intentions at M&S's annual meeting on Wednesday.
Roger Holmes, aged 42, who is managing director of M&S's UK retail operations, is earmarked to take over Mr Vandevelde's role.
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