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It's normal for companies to have a CEO, a CFO and a growing list of increasingly niche executive roles.
But Marks & Spencer has gone one step further by appointing a 'Chief Compliments Officer' – and the person tasked with praising customers' outfits is none other than .
The high street retailer has revealed the Sex Education and X-Files star as the face of the new role, following days of speculation online about the identity of the mystery A-list style icon teased on its social media channels.
In the announcement video, Anderson can be seen sitting behind a large office desk as she introduces herself in her new position.
'We all need more compliments,' she says. 'As such, I have taken a new position as Chief Compliments Officer of .'
The unusual job title is part of the retailer's latest campaign celebrating the power of compliments and the feel-good confidence boost that can come from fashion.
Gillian Anderson has been appointed by Marks and Spencer as 'chief compliments officer' to praise staff and customers
In the announcement video, Anderson can be seen sitting behind a large office desk as she introduces herself in her new position
As Chief Compliments Officer (CCO), Anderson will 'champion affirmation, positivity and connection the M&S way, celebrating customers' individuality and the joy that personal style can bring'.
The appointment follows a cryptic teaser posted by the brand earlier this week, in which a woman could be seen writing the words 'Love That' on branded paper – prompting fans to try to identify the celebrity from her handwriting.
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Names including Kate Moss, Claudia Winkleman, Fearne Cotton, Sienna Miller and Trinny Woodall were all suggested by followers attempting to crack the mystery.
The campaign grew out of a social media series launched by M&S last year celebrating small but powerful affirmations between strangers.
As the videos gained traction online, viewers began adopting the phrase 'Love That' as an everyday expression of appreciation – prompting the retailer to expand it into a wider campaign.
The initiative aims to encourage Britons – who are often stereotyped as hesitant to give or receive compliments – to embrace small moments of positivity in everyday life.
Research commissioned by M&S found 62 per cent of people feel instantly happier when they receive a compliment, highlighting the emotional impact of a simple kind word.
However, the study also revealed that eight per cent of people say they never receive compliments at all.
'We all need more compliments,' she says. 'As such, I have taken a new position as Chief Compliments Officer of M&S'
The unusual job title is part of the retailer's latest campaign celebrating the power of compliments and the feel-good confidence boost that can come from fashion
Anderson will also be sharing messages of positivity online as part of the role, including posting on a newly created LinkedIn account to mark the campaign launch.
And while Anderson has appeared in advertising campaigns before, this marks one of her most prominent roles for a British high street retailer.
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She previously lent her voice to an M&S Food Christmas campaign alongside stars including Olivia Colman and Eddie Redmayne, but has not .
The actress is no stranger to the world of advertising, however, having previously starred in a £4million campaign for bed retailer Dreams and fronted footwear brand Dune London's Spring/Summer 2020 campaign.
On her new job, she said: 'A simple compliment can genuinely boost confidence and change how someone feels all day, so as Chief Compliments Officer, I'm here to help make those moments more commonplace.
Having spent my career playing women in positions of power, complexity and contradiction, I've become very deliberate about how I dress so when someone pays me a compliment it means a lot.
'Not necessarily because it's about how I look but because I dress in a way that feels honest to who I am and when someone recognises that, it is affirming.
'Hearing something genuinely nice, especially about what you're wearing, can change the way you carry yourself, whether you're on a red carpet or doing the school run. And that boost shouldn't be rare.'
In 2020, Marks and Spencer announced plans to cut 7,000 jobs as it .
However, it has since staged a major turnaround, reporting its best-ever financial performance in 2025, with pre-tax profit before adjusting items rising to £716.4 million in 2023/24, up from £453.3 million the previous year.
Marks & Spencer was also
And now, with a Hollywood star officially on the payroll as its first ever Chief Compliments Officer, the retailer appears to be betting that a few kind words could be the latest way to win over shoppers.
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