Pippa Wicks steps down as John Lewis director

Pippa Wicks, the executive director of John Lewis, has announced she is standing down from the group with immediate effect. 

She will be succeeded by Naomi Simcock, who is currently retail director of the brand, on an interim basis. 

Following Wicks’ departure, Simcock will lead the delivery of the 2023 plan and priorities for the brand.  

The group said the shift follows a “period of considerable transformation” for the John Lewis brand.

Sharon White, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “I am very grateful for Pippa’s contribution to John Lewis. She has been instrumental in reinvigorating the brand, launching our successful ANYDAY entry range, refreshing the John Lewis own brand range and repositioning John Lewis ‘for all life’s moments’. 

“Under Pippa’s stewardship John Lewis has reported record sales and was recently recognised as the UK’s best retail brand for customer service.”

Wicks added: “I am proud of the considerable transformational progress the highly talented John Lewis team has made over the past few years, especially given the difficulties caused by the pandemic. It has been a real privilege and honour to work for the Partnership, and help transform John Lewis which is one of the most respected brands in the country.”