Cassani quits the M&S boardroom

BARBARA Cassani, the head of London's bid to stage the 2012 Olympics, has called an end to her brief spell as a Marks & Spencer director.

The former boss of budget airline Go blamed her increasing workload for her decision to step down five months after taking on the M&S post.

The non-executive role at M&S requires a minimum 15 days of work a year, although a spokeswoman said the actual commitment was normally greater.

Cassani, who will quit the board on 30 April, said: 'Whilst I would have liked to stay longer at Marks & Spencer, I do not believe I am able to give the role of non-executive director the attention it deserves without it affecting my focus on the task of leading the Olympic bid.'

M&S has six non-executive seats on its board, with other directors including the former MI5 director-general Dame Stella Rimington.

At the time of her appointment M&S said Cassani would receive an annual salary of £34,000 for her work.

M&S chairman Luc Vandevelde said he understood the decision: 'Marks & Spencer would not wish to distract her in any way from such an important cause and my colleagues on the board join me in wishing Barbara success and thank her for her contribution.'

Cassani quit Go in 2002 following easyJet's £374m acquisition from private equity group 3i. She is thought to have picked up £10m from the deal after forming part of the 3i backed team that bought the airline from British Airways in 2001.

Prior to working at British Airways, US-born Cassani was a consultant at accountants Coopers and Lybrand. Last year she was named Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year.