M&S is set to move into a former Debenhams unit in the next few months as the woman set to lead the opening has been announced.

Lakeside shopping centre, in Thurrock, is set to see M&S move from its current location to a new unit in the centre this yearas part of a £20million investment.

The supermarket is set to move into the unit where Debenhams previously was, and will look to open soon as Dior Hudson has been appointed to lead the opening of the new store.

The relocation will increase the visibility of M&S in the centre, as well as from the surrounding road network.

It will also see the creation of a new, enlarged portal entrance from an upgraded car park, granting direct and improved access to the M&S Foodhall.

Dior will oversee the work between now and later this year to get the new store ready to open to the public. The new store is set to open in the winter, according to previous reports.

New team members will be recruited to join the existing M&S colleagues who will transfer to work in the new store.

This marks Dior’s tenth year at M&S, starting out at the company on the retail graduate scheme after leaving university and working in a variety of stores across London and the south east.

M&S says the move comes as they continue its store estate transformation by making sure they have the right stores in the right locations for customers.

Dior said: “Having the opportunity to open my first major large store last year in Stevenage was a huge milestone in my career at M&S. It’s always a steep but really rewarding learning curve when you do a job like that for the first time.

“Looking back, it really is the proudest moment of my life so far and I can’t wait to get everything ready for our fantastic new store in Lakeside.

“The key to the whole thing is having an amazing team around you, and my team in Lakeside have already been working so hard to make sure everything is perfect for our customers.”