Sieff of Brimpton, Marcus Joseph Sieff, Baron

▪ 2002

      British businessman (b. July 2, 1913, Manchester, Eng.—d. Feb. 23, 2001, London, Eng.), succeeded his father, Baron Sieff, and uncle, Simon Marks, in the family business—retailer Marks and Spencer, which was founded by his maternal grandfather, Michael Marks, in 1884. Under Sieff's stewardship—as assistant managing director (1963–65), vice chairman (1965–67), joint managing director (1967–83), deputy chairman (1971), chairman (1972–84), president (1984–85), and honorary president (1985–2001)—the company, popularly known as M&S or “Marks & Sparks,” grew into Britain's most profitable retailer and an international concern with outlets in several countries. Sieff was also a prominent fund-raiser for Zionist causes and the nonexecutive chairman (1986–93) of The Independent newspaper. In 1980 he became the first son of a life peer to be awarded his own life peerage.

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