Sharon White
This coverage tracks Sharon White’s leadership and influence within the UK retail sector, with a focus on her tenure at the John Lewis Partnership. Reporting includes strategic decisions, organisational changes, financial performance, workforce initiatives, and public statements that have shaped the retailer’s direction. The analysis supports retail executives, managers, and professionals seeking to understand the impact of her leadership on operations, employee relations, and market positioning.
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Mar- 2023 -20 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis mulls end to 100% staff ownership structure
John Lewis is considering diluting its 100% staff ownership structure in a bid to raise investment after the business faced a year of heavy losses. According to The Sunday Times, chairwoman Dame Sharon White is reportedly in the early stages of exploring a proposal to change its partnership structure in…
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16 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis Partnership appoints new CEO
The John Lewis Partnership has announced the appointment of Nish Kankiwala as its new CEO. Kankiwala has been a non-executive director of the John Lewis Partnership since April 2021 and he is also the former CEO of Hovis and has held senior roles at Burger King and PepsiCo. He will…
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16 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis axes bonus as losses surge to £234m
John Lewis has seen losses plummet to £234m in its full-year results, down from a loss of £27m the prior year, with the group axing its staff bonus for a second time and warning of future job losses. It comes as the impact of inflation was “felt across the business”,…
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Feb- 2023 -28 FebruaryDepartment Stores
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…
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Nov- 2022 -22 NovemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis chair warns inflation is ‘hitting top line’ as spending falls
The chair of John Lewis has warned that inflation is “hitting the top line”, with the group witnessing a notable shift in consumer habits amid the cost of living crisis, as more people are budgeting and deferring big purchases. Speaking at the CBI’s annual conference, Dame Sharon White said: “This…
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8 NovemberPeople Moves
John Lewis COO to leave after 30 years
John Lewis Partnership COO Andrew Murphy has announced his intention to leave the retail group after 30 years. He will leave next summer, after he revealed his decision was influenced by the milestone of reaching 30 years with the company, and the desire to pursue other opportunities. Writing on Linkedin,…
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4 NovemberPeople Moves
John Lewis appoints chief transformation & technology officer
The John Lewis Partnership has announced the appointment of Zak Mian as chief transformation and technology officer, effective 7 November. In his new role, Mian will take responsibility for all of John Lewis’ technology, change and transformation activity and the teams who support it. This appointment marks the partnership’s first…
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Sep- 2022 -15 SeptemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis swings to H1 loss of £99m
John Lewis has swung to a loss of £99m for the first half of 2022 (H1 FY22) which it attributed to a reduction in customer spending and an increase in inflation-induced costs, which have not fully been passed onto customers. Overall, Waitrose sales dropped 5% year-on-year to £3.6bn for the…
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Aug- 2022 -12 AugustDepartment Stores
John Lewis to retire ‘never knowingly undersold’ pledge
John Lewis has announced that it is set to reveal a new company slogan on 22 August, retiring its 97-year-old price pledge of “never knowingly undersold”. The retailer first revealed the pledge was under review in March 2020, a month after Sharon White joined as chair. The Guardian reported that…
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9 AugustEconomy
Sharon White: Gov needs to get over 50s back into work to curb inflation
The boss of John Lewis has said the large number of over 50s who left the workforce during the pandemic is helping to fuel the current high levels of inflation across the UK. Speaking to the BBC, Dame Sharon White said that the government must “think really hard” about how…
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