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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Feb- 2021 -18 FebruaryDepartment Stores
John Lewis signs up to HRH Terra Carta initiative
John Lewis has announced it has become the first retailer to sign-up to HRH The Prince of Wales’ Terra Carta, which forms part of HRH’s Sustainable Markets Initiative. Launched by HRH on 11 January 2021, the Terra Carta lists 10 action articles for the decade and aims to provide an…
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Jan- 2021 -22 JanuaryDepartment Stores
John Lewis repays £300m to the Treasury early
John Lewis has announced it has repaid £300m early to the Treasury and the Bank of England Covid Corporate Financing Facility, which was due for repayment on 15 March 2021. The retailer was hit heavily by the impact of Covid-19 and store closures for several months, however the Partnership believes…
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Dec- 2020 -18 DecemberNews
John Lewis Partnership appoints Rita Clifton CBE as deputy chair
The John Lewis Partnership has announced that Rita Clifton CBE has been appointed as the group’s next deputy chairman. Clifton will join the Partnership board next February, and brings with her “significant” experience as a non-executive director in a range of consumer facing sectors. She replaces Keith Williams in the…
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Nov- 2020 -4 NovemberDepartment Stores
John Lewis to cut 1,500 jobs
John Lewis is set to cut around 1,500 staff roles at its head office operations between now and April 2021, as part of the retail group’s ‘Partnership Plan’. It is believed the cuts will save another £50m on top of £50m of recent efficiencies, in order to turn to sustainable…
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Sep- 2020 -17 SeptemberCoronavirus
John Lewis scraps staff bonus amid £635m pre-tax loss
Department store chain John Lewis Partnership has slashed its staff bonus for the first time since 1953, aftering reporting a £635m pre-tax loss for the half-year period ended July 2020. As result, the Partnership board has confirmed that there will not be a bonus next year given its profit outlook.…
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Jul- 2020 -29 JulyDepartment Stores
John Lewis appoints new executive director for people
John Lewis has appointed Nikki Humphrey as executive director for people. Humphrey joins from Virgin Atlantic where she held the position of chief people officer. She succeeds Tracey Killen to the position, who has retired after a 38 year career at the partnership. Effective 1 October, Humphrey will be responsible…
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9 JulyCoronavirus
John Lewis shutters eight stores, 1,300 jobs at risk
John Lewis has confirmed it will not be reopening eight sites across the UK, and will now enter into consultation with impacted employees across its estate. The move will reportedly place 1,300 jobs at risk. The sites that are now set to close their doors include its travel hub shops…
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2 JulyCoronavirus
High street retailers ‘urgently’ need government recovery plan, says Usdaw
Shopworkers union Usdaw has urged the government to agree with employers and trade unions a recovery plan for the high street as “thousands of further job losses are announced”. The union said the scale of job losses across the retail industry is “accelerating” as the high street continues to struggle…
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1 JulyDepartment Stores
John Lewis set to axe stores and jobs
Department store chain John Lewis is reportedly set to cut jobs in a bid to reduce its costs. In a memo first seen by the Evening Standard, chairman Sharon White told 80,000 employees that it was “highly unlikely” the group would reopen all of its John Lewis stores. In addition…
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Jun- 2020 -24 JuneDepartment Stores
John Lewis appoints Pippa Wicks as executive director
John Lewis has announced the appointment of Pippa Wicks as executive director. Wicks joins from the Co-op Group where she held the position of deputy chief executive and will start her new role in August. In her new role she will be responsible for trading, merchandising, marketing and developing propositions…
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