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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May- 2022 -13 MayEconomy
John Lewis chair Sharon White calls for cost of living aid package
Chair of the John Lewis Partnership, Dame Sharon White, has urged the government to issue a new aid package to help support consumers through the cost of living crisis on the same scale as Covid relief. Speaking on the Peston Show on ITV, White said “the time has absolutely come”…
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Sep- 2021 -16 SeptemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis Partnership reduces H1 losses to £29m
The John Lewis Partnership has reduced its losses in the first six-months of the year ending 31 July to £29m from a previous year’s loss of £635m. Revenue rose 5% during the period to £5.2bn from £4.9bn in 2020 and was boosted by improved sales performance. The company revealed that…
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Jun- 2021 -18 JuneDepartment Stores
John Lewis appoints AlixPartners to conduct supply chain review
John Lewis has reportedly appointed AlixPartners to conduct a strategic review of its supply chain and buying habits. According to Drapers, the restructuring firm has been instructed to examine its supply chain and its buying practises, including intake margins, in order to see if it can save variable costs. The…
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10 JuneHR
JLP to provide six months’ equal paid parental leave
The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has announced that it will provide six months of equal parenthood paid leave, becoming the first UK retailer to do so. In addition, two weeks’ paid leave will be given for any of the group’s staff members that experience the loss of a pregnancy. The…
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May- 2021 -24 MayDepartment Stores
John Lewis chair calls for rates rethink to help ‘level’ up retail
John Lewis chair Sharon White has called for chancellor Rishi Sunak to scrap the business rates system in favour of a new land tax which could help “level up” the playing field when it comes to physical and online retail. Speaking to The Telegraph, White said that reform is needed…
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Apr- 2021 -12 AprilAnalysis
How John Lewis plans to bounce back
In 2007, upmarket retail giant John Lewis revealed plans for an ambitious expansion scheme, which aimed to double the size of its business. At the time, the company only had 26 sites across the UK and the £700m investment was created to increase its high street presence: bringing a further…
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1 AprilPeople Moves
John Lewis Partnership appoints non-executive director
The John Lewis Partnership has announced that Nish Kankiwala will join the board as a non-executive director. Kankiwala will succeed Laura Wade-Gery who will step down from the board when her term ends on 30 April 2021. Kankiwala will bring 40 years’ experience in retail and consumer brands such as…
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Mar- 2021 -24 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis to close eight stores placing 1,465 jobs at risk
The John Lewis Partnership has announced that it will not reopen eight of its 42 John Lewis shops from lockdown, putting 1,465 jobs at risk. The eight shops identified for closure include four ‘At Home’ shops in Ashford, Basingstoke, Chester and Tunbridge Wells and four department stores in Aberdeen, Peterborough,…
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11 MarchDepartment Stores
John Lewis swings to £517m loss, warns of further closures
The John Lewis Partnership has swung to a pre-tax loss of £517m in the full-year ended 31 January 2021, down from a profit of £146m reported the year before. This was largely the result of “substantial” exceptional costs of £648m, which included the write down in value of John Lewis…
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Feb- 2021 -22 FebruaryDepartment Stores
John Lewis to shutter up to eight stores
John Lewis is reportedly considering the closure of up to eight of its stores in a bid to further cut costs, according to The Sunday Times. While the exact number of closures is “yet to be determined”, the chain’s bigger and older sites are thought to be most at risk.…
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