THE man charged with revitalising food and clothing giant Marks & Spencer is a former York schoolboy, it emerged today.

Ex-Bootham School pupil Stuart Rose, the former head of clothes store group Arcadia, has returned to M&S - where he began his career as a 17-year-old.

The appointment sees Mr Rose handed the double challenge of trying to brighten up M&S's clothing range, while fending off a hostile takeover bid from retail entrepreneur Philip Green.

Mr Green today launched his campaign for control of M&S by offering shareholders a total of up to £7 billion in cash and a 25 per cent stake in a newly-listed company.

Mr Rose is credited with turning around the fortunes of Arcadia's top stores, including Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins. He was a pupil at Bootham between 1962 and 1968.

Staff at the school said his parents' ambition had been for him to pursue a career in medicine but, on a return visit to the school a few years ago, he had said he had not been inclined towards the academic professions.

He replaces former chief executive Roger Holmes, and said he was "delighted" to be taking over at M&S and looking forward to revitalising the company's fortunes.

Fellow Bootham old boy and friend Victor Wilson, chairman of Waddington plc, said: "If anyone can do it, he can, and I wish him every success in his endeavours. I know that he will have great loyalty from those who will be working with him."

Bootham School business studies students were looking forward to the next visit from their famous old boy. Headmaster Ian Small, said: "We are always struck by the warmth which Bootham Old Scholars like Victor Wilson, Stuart Rose and, of course, York City's Sophie McGill, still feel for the place."

Updated: 10:08 Thursday, June 03, 2004