{{short description|British businessman and life peer (born 1949)}} {{For|the stamp designer|Stuart Rose (designer)}} {{Use British English|date=September 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = The Right Honourable | name = The Lord Rose of Monewden | honorific_suffix = | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1949|03|17}} | birth_place = Gosport, Hampshire, England | death_date = | death_place = | years_active = 1972–present | occupation = Businessman | title = {{plainlist| * CEO of Burton Group PLC (1994–?) * CEO of Argos (1997–1998) * CEO of Arcadia Group (2000–2002) * CEO of M&S (2004–2010) * Executive chairman of M&S (2008–2011) * Non-executive director of Woolworths Holdings Ltd. (2011–present) * Chairman of Oasis Dental * Chairman of EG Group (2021–present) * Chairman of Asda (2021–2024) }} | networth = | children = 2 | political_party = Conservative | spouse = {{marriage|Jennifer Cook|1973|2010|end=div}} | partner = Kate Reardon (until 2009) | module = {{Infobox officeholder | embed = yes | office1 = Member of the House of Lords | status1 = Lord Temporal | term_label1 = Life peerage | term_start1 = 17 September 2014 | term_end1 = }} }}
'''Stuart Alan Ransom Rose, Baron Rose of Monewden''' (born 17 March 1949) is a British businessman and life peer, who was the executive chairman of Marks & Spencer until 2010, remaining as chairman until early 2011.
Rose was chairman of online retailer Ocado from 2013 to July 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2019/05/world-retail-congress-2019-lord-stuart-rose/|title=Lord Rose: Death of the high street is "overblown"|last=Nazir|first=Sahar|date=2019-05-16|website=Retail Gazette|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-30}}</ref><ref name="Ocado hunts for chairman as Lord Rose steps down">{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Robert |title=Ocado hunts for chairman as Lord Rose steps down |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/ocado-hunts-for-chairman-as-lord-rose-steps-down-rglx7l065 |website=Th Times |date=13 July 2020 |publisher=The Times |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref> He has been chairman of Asda since 2021.
In October 2015, he was appointed chair of Britain Stronger in Europe, the official remain campaign in the 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/oct/09/stuart-rose-will-chair-campaign-to-keep-britain-in-the-eu|title=EU referendum: Stuart Rose will chair campaign to keep Britain in the union|last=Wintour|first=Patrick|date=9 October 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref>
Rose served as chairman of Asda from 2021 to 2024 and took on executive responsibilities in September 2024.<ref name="lancashirebusinessview.co.uk">{{Cite web |title=Mohsin Issa to step back from Asda role to focus on EG Group |url=https://www.lancashirebusinessview.co.uk/latest-news-and-features/mohsin-issa-to-step-back-from-asda-role-to-focus-on-eg-group |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Lancashire Business View |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life== Rose's grandparents were White Russian émigrés who fled to China after the 1917 revolution. Their son (later named Harry Ransom-Rose) was unofficially adopted by Nona Ransom, a Quaker from Bedford, England, who served as English tutor to (among others) Empress Wanrong (the last Empress of China), and Shunryu Suzuki (the Japanese monk who later established the first Zen monastery outside East Asia).<ref>[http://www.cuke.com/Cucumber%20Project/other/nona/hr-on-nr.htm Letter from Harry Ransom-Rose to David Chadwick, February 1996], cuke.com. Accessed 18 January 2023.</ref>
Nona transported Stuart Rose's father, Harry, to safety in England as war loomed. The original family name was Bryantzeff, which Rose's father, ex-RAF and civil servant, changed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article788500.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705180350/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/article788500.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 July 2008 |title=Interview: Andrew Davidson: Full Marks for Stuart Rose|work=The Sunday Times|date=15 January 2006|access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref> His mother's side is English, Scottish and Greek.<ref name=BBC-SR>{{cite episode |title=Desert Island Discs with Stuart Rose as participant|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nx7mk |series=Desert Island Discs | series-link=Desert Island Discs |network=BBC |station=Radio 4 |airdate=22 November 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Elizabeth Day |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/may/31/marks-and-spencer-stuart-rose |title=As M&S turns 125, its boss Stuart Rose celebrates going green, girl power and chicken jalfrezi ready meals |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=31 May 2009 |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>
The young family lived in a caravan in Warwickshire until Rose senior obtained a posting with the Imperial Civil Service in Tanganyika (now Tanzania). Rose went to the Roman Catholic St Joseph's Convent School in Dar es Salaam until he was 11. When he was 13 years old his family returned to England and his parents sent him to Bootham School, an independent Quaker boarding school in York.
==Career== Rose first joined Marks & Spencer in 1972, as a management trainee. Rose remained with Marks & Spencer until 1989, when he joined the Burton Group as Chief Executive in 1994. The Burton Group demerged, forming the Arcadia and Debenhams businesses.
In 1997, he joined Argos as Chief Executive, where he was charged with defending the company against a takeover bid from the home shopping giant, Great Universal Stores (GUS). Ultimately, GUS did succeed in taking control of Argos, although Rose was praised for negotiating an increased price for the retailer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gus-offered-argos-chief-chance-to-stay-1161042.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/gus-offered-argos-chief-chance-to-stay-1161042.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=GUS offered Argos chief chance to stay|date=1998-05-06|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/jul/22/5|title=GUS upbeat as sales rise at Argos|last=Treanor|first=Jill|date=2004-07-21|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-01-23|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
In a turbulent time in its history, Rose became the Chief Executive of Booker plc, where he oversaw the merger of the company with Iceland to form the Big Food Group.
Rose joined the Arcadia Group in 2000 as Chief Executive and left in 2002 following its acquisition. Rose turned around the fortunes of the Arcadia Group, and sold the group for over £800m, netting himself around £25m as part of the deal.
He was appointed to the position of Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer in May 2004 at the age of 56 and subsequently fought off takeover bids by Philip Green for the Group.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.retail-week.com/sir-stuart-rose-ends-six-year-tenure-at-mands/5020806.article|title=Sir Stuart Rose ends six-year tenure at M&S|date=4 January 2011|website=Retail Week|language=en|access-date=2020-01-23}}</ref> For this role he was paid an annual salary of £1,130,000.<ref name="Remuneration">{{cite web |title=Remuneration |url=http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/documents/publications/2008/lettershareholdersapril08 |date=3 April 2008 |work=Letter to shareholders |publisher=Marks & Spencer |format=PDF |page=4 |access-date=18 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607030014/http://corporate.marksandspencer.com/documents/publications/2008/lettershareholdersapril08 |archive-date=7 June 2009 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In January 2007, he was named the "2006 Business Leader of the Year" by the World Leadership Forum for his efforts in restoring the fortunes of Marks & Spencer.<ref name=":2" /> He was knighted in the 2008 New Year Honours for services to the retail industry and to corporate social responsibility,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=58557|date=29 December 2007|supp=y}}</ref> and was appointed chairman of Business in the Community on 1 January 2008.
In 2008, Rose became executive chairman of Marks & Spencer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=8269276&symbol=MKS.L |title=List of Public Companies Worldwide, Letter |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |access-date=10 March 2014}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> However, in the light of a recent profits warning, which sparked an unprecedented thirty per cent-plus plunge in the company's shares, this appointment caused some concern to many shareholders.<ref>''Irish Times'', 9 July 2008, p.19, Business Today</ref> Nevertheless, they voted to re-appoint him at their annual meeting on 9 July 2008. He stepped down as chief executive in May 2010, as executive chairman in July 2010, and as chairman in January 2011 following the appointment of Robert Swannell.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketingweek.com/stuart-rose-may-leave-ms-a-bit-earlier-than-expected/|title=Stuart Rose may leave M&S "a bit earlier" than expected|last=Fernandez|first=Joe|date=2010-03-03|website=Marketing Week|language=en|access-date=2020-02-07}}</ref>
On 19 January 2011, Rose was appointed as a non-executive director of Woolworths Holdings Ltd, a large South African retail group listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110120-711138.html | work=The Wall Street Journal | title=Woolworths Names Former Marks & Spencer CEO As Director | date=20 January 2011}}</ref>
On 6 September 2012, Rose was appointed as non-executive chairman of Dressipi.com, an online personalised fashion service that matches clothes and accessories to a shopper's shape, style and individual preferences.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://thenextweb.com/uk/2012/12/07/former-marks-and-spencer-chairman-stuart-rose-to-join-dressipi/ | work=The Next Web | title=Former Marks and Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose joins fashion recommendation site Dressipi in advisory role | date=7 December 2012}}</ref>
In 2013, Rose became an independent non-executive director and chairman of Ocado, the UK internet-only grocery retailer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://otp.investis.com/clients/uk/ocado/rns/regulatory-story.aspx?cid=371&newsid=302837 |title=Directorate Changes |publisher=Otp.investis.com |access-date=10 March 2014}}</ref>
He was recruited to advise the government on turning around failing hospitals, asked to examine how to improve the organisational culture in under-performing hospitals and ways to recruit talent from inside and outside the NHS in February 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Stuart Rose To Become Top Health Adviser|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1211370/sir-stuart-rose-to-become-top-health-adviser|access-date=15 March 2014|publisher=Sky News|date=14 February 2014}}</ref>
In 2014, Rose was created a life peer and took a seat on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords.<ref>{{cite news|title=Karren Brady and Sir Stuart Rose among new life peers|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28703150|work=BBC News|date=8 August 2014}}</ref> In October 2015, Rose was appointed chair of Britain Stronger in Europe, the official remain campaign in the 2016 referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union.<ref name=":0" /> After stating to a select committee in March 2016 that wages would go up should Britain leave the European Union, his public role was allegedly limited for the rest of the campaign.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/14/lord-stuart-rose-misquoted-post-eu-brexit-wage-increases|title=Lord Stuart Rose 'misquoted' on post-Brexit wage increases|last=Mason|first=Rowena|date=14 June 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref> In 2019, Rose dismissed calls for a second referendum, stating that he 'believes in a democratic process', despite being a Remainer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/08/20/stuart-rose-former-chairman-remain-campaign-dismisses-calls/|title=Get on with Brexit, says Stuart Rose, former chairman of Remain campaign|last=Yorke|first=Harry|date=2019-08-20|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2020-01-30|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
In 2015 Rose became Chairman of Time Out Market, owned by Time Out Group.<ref name="Time Out">{{cite news |last1=PR |first1=Time Out |title=Lord Stuart Rose to Become Chairman for Time Out Market |url=https://www.timeout.com/about/latest-news/lord-stuart-rose-to-become-chairman-for-time-out-market-121415 |access-date=27 June 2022 |work=Time Out About}}</ref>
On 14 July 2020, Rose stepped down from his role as chairman of Ocado.<ref name="Ocado sky">{{cite web |last1=Kleinman |first1=Mark |title=Ocado kicks off hunt for chair to bloom in Rose's place |url=https://news.sky.com/story/ocado-kicks-off-hunt-for-chair-to-bloom-in-roses-place-12027934 |website=Sky News |access-date=14 July 2020}}</ref>
As of 2020 Rose chaired privately held businesses including Dressipi, an online fashion start-up, and Zenith, a vehicle-leasing and fleet management company.<ref name="Ocado sky"/>
On 21 January 2021, Rose was appointed non-executive chairman of EG Group.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Onita|first=Laura|date=2021-01-21|title=Issa brothers draft in retail veteran Lord Rose as chairman|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/01/21/issa-brothers-draft-retail-veteran-lord-rose-chairman/|access-date=2021-01-24|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>
On 23 November 2021, Rose was appointed chairman of Asda as its first dedicated chairman in more than 20 years.<ref name="Asda appoints former M&S boss Stuart Rose as new chairman">{{cite web |last1=Butler |first1=Sarah |title=Asda appoints former M&S boss Stuart Rose as new chairman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/nov/23/asda-appoints-former-marks-and-spencer-boss-stuart-rose-as-new-chairman |website=Guardian |date=23 November 2021 |access-date=24 November 2021}}</ref>
On 19 September 2024, Rose took on executive responsibilities at Asda, leading day-to-day operations alongside TDR Capital's Rob Hattrell.<ref name="lancashirebusinessview.co.uk"/>
==Personal life== His mother, who had a history of depression, took her own life at the age of 49.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/global/2009/nov/22/stuart-rose-desert-island-discs Marks and Spencer's Sir Stuart Rose comes clean on Desert Island Discs], ''The Observer'', 22 November 2009</ref> She took an overdose combined with alcohol when Rose was 26 years old.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100516030349/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/5427513/Sir-Stuart-Rose-after-a-year-of-turbulence-the-MandS-boss-expects-a-happy-landing.html Sir Stuart Rose: after a year of turbulence the M&S boss expects a happy landing], ''The Daily Telegraph'', 2 June 2009</ref>
Rose lives in Central London and Suffolk. He married Jennifer Cook in 1973 in Marylebone. They had one son and one daughter. After they separated, Rose lived with fashion writer Kate Reardon. Then, after separating from Reardon in 2009, and stepping down from his positions at M&S, Rose and Cook divorced in 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.thetimes.com/article/sir-stuart-rose-the-mands-exit-interview-0v2fwqzzjx3 | title = Sir Stuart Rose: The M&S exit interview | date = 2010-09-04 | access-date = 2020-09-26 | work = The Times }} {{subscription required}}</ref>
==Honours== In 2007, Rose was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Heriot-Watt University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www1.hw.ac.uk/annual-review/2007/people_awards.html|title=Annual Review 2007 : Principal's Review|website=www1.hw.ac.uk|access-date=29 March 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032855/http://www1.hw.ac.uk/annual-review/2007/people_awards.html|archive-date=5 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The following year, he was knighted in the 2008 New Year Honours for services to the retail industry and to corporate social responsibility.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=58803 |date=22 August 2008 |page=12885}}</ref>
In 2009, the University of East Anglia conferred upon him an Honorary Doctor of the University degree (Hon. D.Univ.).<ref>[https://www.uea.ac.uk/about/alumni-and-supporters/honorary-awards/honorary-graduates/sir-stuart-rose-honorary-doctor-of-the-university-2009 Rose, Sir Stuart - Honorary Doctor of the University (2009)] - website of the University of East Anglia</ref> On 16 July 2010, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (Hon. LL.D) from the University of Leeds, the same university from which his son graduated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/30310/honorary_graduates/304/sir_stuart_rose |title=Sir Stuart Rose|publisher=University of Leeds |date=16 July 2010 |access-date=10 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922011014/http://www.leeds.ac.uk/info/30310/honorary_graduates/304/sir_stuart_rose |archive-date=22 September 2012 }}</ref> He later received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of York in 2013.<ref>[https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2013/events/honorary-degrees-july/ University of York awards nine honorary degrees] - website of the University of York</ref>
On 8 August 2014, it was announced that Rose was going to be a Conservative peer in the House of Lords.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/working-peerages-announced-2014 |title=Press release - Working peerages announced: 2014|publisher=gov.uk |date=8 August 2014 |access-date=29 March 2026 }}</ref> Subsequently, on 17 September 2014, he was created a life peer taking the title '''Baron Rose of Monewden''', of Monewden in the County of Suffolk.<ref>{{cite web |title=Crown Office Notice No. 2199440 |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/2199440 |date=19 September 2014|work=The Edinburgh Gazette|publisher=HMSO|access-date=19 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60995 |date=23 September 2014 |page=18458}}</ref>
Rose is a Fellow of WWF-UK.<ref>[https://www.wwf.org.uk/who-we-are/fellows WWF-UK Fellows] - website of the World Wide Fund for Nature</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{s-start}} {{s-bus}} {{s-bef|before=Roger Holmes}} {{s-ttl|title=CEO of Marks & Spencer|years=2004–2010}} {{s-aft|after=Marc Bolland}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-new|office}} {{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Britain Stronger in Europe Campaign|years=2015–2016}} {{s-non|reason=Position abolished}} {{s-prec|uk}} {{s-bef|before=The Lord Goddard of Stockport}} {{s-ttl|title=Gentlemen'''<br />''Baron Rose of Monewden'' '''}} {{s-fol|after=The Lord Cooper of Windrush}} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rose, Stuart}} Category:1949 births Category:British chief executives in retailing Category:People educated at Bootham School Category:English businesspeople in fashion Category:English businesspeople in retailing Category:English people of Greek descent Category:English chief executives Category:English people of Russian descent Category:English people of Scottish descent Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Living people Category:People from Gosport Category:Conservative Party (UK) life peers Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II Category:People associated with Heriot-Watt University Category:People associated with the University of Leeds Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods