Marks & Spencer's CTO Rachel Higham exits the company and this may be the reason

Rachel Higham, the Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Marks & Spencer (M&S), is leaving the company, a report claims. This comes months after a cyberattack that caused hundreds of millions of pounds in damage to the UK-based retail chain and disrupted its systems.

A report by the new agency Reuters cited Sky News to claim that her departure was announced in a recent internal memo shared by the company. Higham, who is a former executive at WPP and BT Group, was hired by M&S early last year in June to lead its technology functions. In the internal memo, the company noted that Higham had made her decision to take a break from work, which was the reason behind her exit.

What M&S said about the exit of its Chief Digital and Technology Officer

In a statement about Higham’s exit, a M&S spokesperson said to Reuters: “Rachel has decided to take a break and is stepping back from her role, having been a valued part of the leadership team. She has been a steady hand and calm head at an extraordinary time for the business and we wish her well for the future.”The company spokesperson also noted that Higham’s departure has led to a broader reorganisation of roles.

Longtime executive Sacha Berendji will now oversee the digital and technology division alongside his existing responsibilities for property and store development, the Reuters report added.In addition, Thinus Keeve, who joined as retail director in June, will shift from reporting to Berendji to reporting directly to Chief Executive Stuart Machin, Reuters noted.In April, M&S suffered a cyberattack, which was carried out by a group known as Scattered Spider.

This hacking incident disrupted the retailer’s online operations and highlighted the rising risk of such threats. The retailer has since restored its click-and-collect service and expects insurance to cover part of the losses.In May, the company estimated the breach would reduce operating profit in the 2025/26 financial year by about £300 million ($405 million). However, it aimed to offset roughly half that impact through insurance claims and tighter cost controls.Last month, M&S told Sky News it was not seeking to replace Higham. However, the latest report also didn’t mention whether she would receive a payoff.