John Lewis boss Dame Sharon White is to step down in early 2025, making her the shortest-serving chair in the partnership’s history.
White has asked the John Lewis Partnership board to initiated the process of appointing her successor.
She intends to step down when her first five-year term as chair comes to an end in February.
As part of the recruitment process, White has also asked the board to review the
accountabilities of the chair role to ensure that they “continue to support the successful
transformation of the business”.
Former Ofcom boss White has not had the easiest run since she took over the group, which operates both the department store John Lewis and Waitrose.
Since she outlined her transformation plan in 2020, she has had a global pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis to contend with.
Just last month, White revealed her five-year turnaround plan would be delayed by two years.
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The partnership reported a loss of £234m last year, and although losses narrowed in its recent half-year results, it was still in the red to the tune of around £60m.
White termed the role a “special and unique role in UK business”.
“Having led the Partnership through the pandemic and the worst of the cost-of-living crisis, it is important that there is now a smooth and orderly succession process and handover,” she said.
“The Partnership is making progress in its modernisation and transformation with improving
results. There is a long road ahead and I am committed to handing on the strongest possible Partnership to my successor.”
Some of her plans have been met with controversy, such as the possibility of selling a stake in the business that it explored earlier this year, which would dilute its lauded partnership model. The business is understood to have shelved this plan, which received a big backlash.
White has faced opposition from some John Lewis partners of late. She narrowly survived a confidence vote earlier this year when the partnership council, made up of more than 60 partners, said it did not have confidence in the business’ performance under White’s leadership but backed her future strategy.
Earlier this year, she hired Nish Kankiwala, previously a non-executive director at the partnership, as the business’ first CEO.
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She was a rediculouse choice. No commercial experience. Perhaps it not to late to steer a recovery under new creative and entrepreneurial leadership.
It is a shame she is stepping down in 2025 though isn’t it… 20:25 today would be better.
When you give a job to someone who hasn’t a clue.
Give her credit, she’s invemnted a totally new Business recovery model. Old model was, you are losing market share, try and give your customers (and ex customers) more to lure them back. New model, give your customers and potential departees even less, and see what happens. Oh, hang on, maybe she has secret shares in Aldi and Lidl?
Have to agree with other comments, John Lewis needs to focus on it’s core retail. Next and M&S are showing how you can not only survive but thrive as an Omni channel retailer. John Lewis needs an experienced retailer to lead it out of its difficulty, this is the last chance saloon. Forget property development etc.
Let’s hope JLP can actually survive another year of the “turnaround” plan
What a waste of time SW is. The lost skill, talent and profit centres all but disolved was truly crackers. But more designers hired? Her successor has a bigger job than they all know.
Looks very short-sighted now closing 16 stores….
Sooner the better, no retail history and ran the company into the ground.
Why not get rid of her now? We need a real retailer in there immediately. Can’t afford a time lag to let Dame Sharon Ehite out graciously. How about Derek Lovelock?
Why not get rid of her now? We need a real retailer in there immediately. Can’t afford a time lag to let Dame Sharon White out graciously. How about Derek Lovelock?
….or I can suggest other contenders!
Ugg… don’t give inexperienced people control of businesses they don’t understand. Her failure was predicted by just about everyone.
She made some blunders with JL to close down 16 stores like Peterborough when an expensive refurb had been done and also Sheffield causing damage to the brand’s name and wasting money when Department store physical stores are back in fashion as H of F and Debenhams are more or less gone. I believe a retailer not a civil servant should run a bell weather and highly regarded department store and hope it is not too late for JL. JL has lost it’s way.