London: Marks & Spencer Group Plc chief executive officer Marc Bolland needs to revamp the UK retailer's clothing brands and accelerate cost savings rather than pursue capital-intensive overseas expansion, shareholders and analysts said.

Bolland, who took charge of Britain's largest clothing retailer on May 1, will outline his strategy on Tuesday following a six-month review. The 51-year-old, who succeeded Stuart Rose, has pledged a policy of "evolution not revolution."

"The last thing we want them to do is go expanding like billy-o and over-extend themselves," said Paul Mumford, a fund manager at Cavendish Asset Management in London, who owns Marks & Spencer stock.

"Domestically, the whole of the company has to be looked at more closely. The next step is for Bolland to work on the growth they are slowly starting to see."

Sales growth at Marks & Spencer has trailed rivals including Tesco Plc, the country's biggest retailer, over the past five years as Tesco expanded its selection of non-food items such as £35 ($57) snakeskin dresses and £15 wedding bands.

Bolland needs to sustain a recent revival in clothing sales growth and market-share gains by clarifying its branding in stores, said Panmure Gordon & Co. analyst Jean Roche.

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