Luc Vandevelde, the Belgian chief of Marks & Spencer, is to relinquish his role as chief executive, it was announced today.

Mr Vandevelde, who is also chairman, is widely credited for turning around M&S's fortunes after years of falling sales and profits.

But today the retailer confirmed the chief executive role would be taken over by Roger Holmes, currently managing director of the company's UK retail operations, while Mr Vandevelde would stay on as chairman.

The widely-expected changes will take place as of September 1.

Mr Vandevelde, 51, has instigated a radical overhaul at M&S in the two years since he joined.

Stores have been refurbished, new ranges brought in and the group has closed or sold all its shops in mainland Europe.

Mr Vandevelde last year earned £2.2 million in salary and bonus.

Mr Holmes, 42, who joined in January last year from Kingfisher, has also been credited in part for M&S's turnaround.

Mr Holmes will be paid a basic salary of £600,000, an improvement on the £425,000 he currently receives.

News of the change in leadership came as M&S posted first-quarter trading figures.

Total sales in the 14 weeks to July 6 were up 9.1 per cent, with clothing, footwear and gifts showing the biggest increase, of 14.8 per cent.

Home goods were up 5.9 per cent while food sales grew by 2.9 per cent.

Total like-for-like sales, which exclude new, closed or redeveloped stores, were up 7.7 per cent.

Food sales rose 1.5 per cent on the same basis, and there was a 12.7 per cent increase across general merchandise.

M&S said sales had improved in all adult clothing areas, with the best performance coming from womenswear.

Food sales were affected by the early Easter.

Mr Vandevelde said: "I am pleased with the performance over the last quarter, which demonstrates we are securing recovery.