Marks & Spencer India appoints Prateek Kumar as Head of Retail

Kumar joins Marks & Spencer India after leading offline retail at Zouk and spending eight years at H&M, where he worked on the brand’s India store pipeline through 2026.

— Source publishedMon, 28 Sept, 2026, 15:40 IST·First seen Mon, 28 Sept, 2026, 15:57 IST·Source IMAGES Business of Fashion

The leadership change

Marks & Spencer India appointed Prateek Kumar as Head of Retail after he served as Zouk’s Director, Offline from December 2024. Kumar previously spent 8 years at H&M, where he helped shape India’s store pipeline through 2026.

Who and when

  • December 2024
  • 8 years
  • June 2019
  • 2026
  • about eight months

Why the change matters

Marks & Spencer India’s appointment of Prateek Kumar, with Zouk and H&M experience, signals a sharper push to strengthen store operations and execute its offline expansion agenda.

What to watch next

  • Announcement of new Marks & Spencer India store openings, relocations, or city entries within the next two quarters.
  • Hiring for retail operations, store development, visual merchandising, supply chain, or regional management roles.
  • Changes in store format, assortment breadth, fitting-room/service standards, or omnichannel services.
  • Evidence of expanded presence in premium malls, airport retail, or affluent tier-1 and tier-2 catchments.
  • Sales productivity signals such as stronger comparable-store performance, higher conversion, or improved inventory availability.