LONDON -(Dow Jones)- The chief executive of U.K. magazine and book retailer WH Smith PLC (SMWH.LN) Thursday ruled herself out of the running for the top job at Marks & Spencer PLC (MKS.LN).
When asked if rumors were true that she was in the frame as a contender for the post, Chief Executive Kate Swann told journalists on a conference call: "I don't know why people are talking about me. Pretty much every other month I' m linked to something or other - it's been ITV (ITV.LN) before and the funniest one last week was the CBI (confederation of British Industry)."
Swann said she didn't have anything more to say as "I never comment on speculation and don't plan to start now."
Stuart Rose, the executive chairman and chief executive of U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer, has pledged to relinquish the chief executive role in 2010 once a suitable candidate is found.
Company Web site: www.whsmith.co.uk
-By Hannah Benjamin, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9298; hannah.benjamin@dowjones.com