According to the Financial Times, the board at Marks and Spencer was warned over 18 months ago that Luc Vandevelde's position as non-executive chairman was unsustainable due to a big pay package but having many outside commitments.

Tony Ball, who at the time was a non-executive director of the flailing retail group, told board members that Mr Vandevelde's GBP450,000 a year package would lead to problems. His position was over-ruled, however, and he chose to resign over the issue in September 2002.

"Tony did not agree with Vandevelde's package and the ability it gave him to do lots of other things," as was quoted in today's FT. "He thought there would be clear conflicts, and felt that wasn't what M&S needed at that time. And his salary wasn't reflective of the amount of time he would be spending there."

Vittorio Radice, the M&S's head of clothing and home and store design, has stated Mr Vandevelde's departure would be a distraction, but refused to be drawn on whether the group needed a City grandee or a retailer as replacement. "We need the very best person we can get," he said.