Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Stuart...

London, UNITED KINGDOM: Marks and Spencer Chief Executive Stuart Rose poses for photographs during a clothing launch at Covent Garden in London, 24 May 2007. The store launched a new exclusive fashion collection from the Autumn Winter collection as part of the Autograph "Exclusive" range. Marks and Spencer, the British clothing-to-food retailer, has pulled further away from a crisis suffered three years ago, enjoying record sales and strong profits last year. Net profit on a 12-month comparison climbed 26.8 percent to 659.9 million pounds (966.7 million euros, 1.301 billion dollars) in the year to March 31, Marks and Spencer said in an official earnings release. Sales meanwhile increased for a seventh quarter running, as customers flocked to its stores and website to purchase goods ranging from men's suits, women's toiletries, fresh fruit and toys. AFP PHOTO/ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)