Luke Allsop
Newcastle upon Tyne
Summary
A highly effective and impactful leader with cross functional experience. Motivated by the opportunity to engage, coach and develop teams and individuals. Presents an established track record of successfully managing a multi-site, fast-paced operation, with significant direct leadership HR responsibilities. More recent experience demonstrates full National P&L accountability for a FTSE 100 organisation, and the ability to initiate and manage complex, multiple site programs with aggressive project timelines.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work history
Interim Head of BC and Group Safety
Marks and Spencer
UK & ROI
12.2025 - Current
- Responsible for Business Continuity across the group, covering retail stores, depots, offices, international premises, and supply chain partners
- Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of the business continuity framework and plan across the organisation
- Identify, assess and categorise all the foreseeable significant risks to business as usual via the Business Risk Register Process
- Coordinate the reporting of all incidents as they occur through the Group Incident Reporting Procedure. Respond immediately via an Incident Management Team (IMT) or Crisis Management Team (CMT)
- Responsible for the Group Safety function, and management coordination of all business units' appraisal of risk within their remit
- Sub-chair the Business Continuity and Group Safety Committees
Head of Property Programmes
Marks and Spencer
, UK & ROI
01.2025 - Current
- Responsible for reporting and programme management of all property related activity across the M&S group, including acquisitions, disposals, store renewals, store environment and planned asset investment, with accountability for an annual capital plan of c£400m
- The role, through coordination of the core Property and Store Development teams, supports the significant growth in the M&S property pipeline over the next three financial years, with c100 new stores openings, c50 full line closures, and an annual asset management disposals plan of £50m
- Responsible, alongside the Property Director, for the formation of the National Real Estate Strategy. Now working cross-departmentally to deliver the full line rotation strategy and accelerated growth of the food business
- Co-ordination of the Property procurement teams to leverage scale, negotiate framework appointments across consultants and contractors, and optimise capital expenditure by project
- Responsible for the management of all governance forums across the property lifecycle, including Property Board, Property Committee, ExCo, and PLC board submissions
- Working as part of the Operations Leadership Team and Transformation Leadership team, the role is reports to the National Operations Director and Executive Committee
Head of Estates
Marks & Spencer
, UK & ROI
10.2022 - 01.2025
- Overarching responsibility for the estate management of 618 Marks & Spencer stores across the UK & ROI
- Oversee key occupancy cost lines of rent (£290m pa), business rates (£159m pa), service charges (£41m pa), and insurance (£5m pa) - alongside broader National P&L governance
- Lead the UK & ROI wide store disposal programme, removing £750m of gross occupancy cost to lease expiry across FY24 and FY25, whilst generating proceeds from sales of c£85m
- Work alongside internal colleagues, local authorities, institutional landlords, and key stakeholders to deliver the required estate transformation, modernisation, and repositioning for future growth
- Form part of the Property Leadership & Transformation team, presenting to and informing the company board on store closures, rotation, disposals, and significant lease restructures
- Manage an internal team of twelve estates colleagues, alongside working in partnership with a number of key external consultants (CBRE, Savills, Bellrock, GL Hearn, Assure, MMR, FMX, Mason & Partners)
- Appointed as a member of the Marks and Spencer ‘FastTrack' cohort for accelerated executive-level progression on a five year horizon
Property Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
, North East & Lakes Region
08.2018 - 09.2022
- Responsible for the acquisition, planning, design and construction of all new stores and remodelling projects within the North East and Lake District Region
- Delivered ten new stores and twelve store extensions/relocations in a three year period
- Administration of a Regional CAPEX budget of circa £45m per annum
- End to end Regional P&L responsibility across the Property function of c£20m OPEX
- Directly responsible for an internal team of Property Managers and assistants, whilst externally co-ordinating a broad professional team of architects, engineers, construction managers, quantity surveyors and planning consultants
- Manage the entire Regional estate of stores (80+) maintenance provision and merchandising. Reduced maintenance cost base by 14%, on an annual budget of £6m expense
Operations Project Manager
Aldi Stores Ltd
, National
01.2018 - 07.2018
- Appointed as the National lead for a number of new operational initiatives including the roll out of Self Checkouts, Automated Stock Ordering software, and a digital 'Balanced Scorecard' KPI dashboard
- Successfully led a £30m tender for an initial Self Checkout trial between two major international vendors
- Drove the strategic implementation of the equipment in a selection of our London City stores, in co-ordination with various departments (Operations, Property, Marketing, IT and Finance)
- Presented the project results to the senior leadership team and board members, achieving formal sign off
Area Manager
Aldi Stores Ltd
Newcastle upon Tyne
10.2014 - 12.2017
- Responsible for six stores in Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead and Sunderland
- Direct HR responsibilities for +250 store staff, including recruitment, training and development, performance management and promotions
- Achieved Region leading KPI performance in Productivity, Price Change, Inventory control, Customer Service, and Availability
- Lead mentor for all new Area Managers - responsible for managing training plans, overseeing personal development and liaising with the Store Operations Director for sign off
- Led the initial Property re-merchandising trial 'Project Fresh' of four store conversions/upgrades
Trainee Commercial Manager
Marks & Spencer
Leeds
09.2012 - 09.2013
- Undergraduate placement year which included secondments to Finance, General Merchandising, Food and Operations
Education
Bachelor of Science - Retail, Marketing & Management
Loughborough University
Loughborough05.2014
A-Levels - Business Studies, Economics, Physical Education
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College
Leeds05.2010
GCSE -
St Thomas A Becket Catholic Secondary School
Wakefield05.2008
Skills
- Health & Safety, Food Hygiene and First Aid certificated
- Acquainted with SAP, Workday and SharePoint programmes
Timeline
Interim Head of BC and Group Safety
Marks and Spencer
12.2025 - Current
Head of Property Programmes
Marks and Spencer
01.2025 - Current
Head of Estates
Marks & Spencer
10.2022 - 01.2025
Property Director
Aldi Stores Ltd
08.2018 - 09.2022
Operations Project Manager
Aldi Stores Ltd
01.2018 - 07.2018
Area Manager
Aldi Stores Ltd
10.2014 - 12.2017
Trainee Commercial Manager
Marks & Spencer
09.2012 - 09.2013
Bachelor of Science - Retail, Marketing & Management
Loughborough University
A-Levels - Business Studies, Economics, Physical Education
Notre Dame Catholic Sixth Form College
GCSE -
St Thomas A Becket Catholic Secondary School