Sir Stuart RoseRose crosses the Bridgepoint

SIR Stuart Rose, the outgoing chairman of Marks & Spencer, is joining the European private equity firm Bridgepoint as an adviser.

The M&S boss, who recently said he wanted to do something that was both "lucrative and fun", is due to step down at the retailer in January 2011. He joins ex-HBOS chief executive Sir James Crosby on the private equity group's European advisory committee.

William Jackson, managing partner at Bridgepoint, said: "I'm delighted that Stuart is joining Bridgepoint. He's had a fantastic business career and has unparalleled experience in the retail world where Bridgepoint has made substantial investments over the years."

Bridgepoint's portfolio includes Pret A Manger, Fat Face and HobbyCraft in Britain. Rose, who is also a previous chief executive of Argos, the household goods retailer, said: "I am greatly looking forward to working closely with the team and providing consumer insight for their investments."