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 and services for John Lewis shops and its online platform.

Sharon White, partner and chairman of the John Lewis, said: “I am delighted to welcome Pippa to the Partnership. She brings a wealth of experience of leading and developing businesses that deliver brilliant products and services to customers, both online and in stores. 

“Pippa has an exceptional track record, including at the Co-op Group which, as a membership organisation, shares similar values to the Partnership in terms of the commitment to the communities we serve.” 

Wicks added: “I feel extremely privileged to be joining the John Lewis Partnership at such an important time in its history. As executive director responsible for the John Lewis business I look forward to working closely with partners to steer through these extraordinary times in society and in retail. 

“As the biggest employee-owned business in the UK and one of the biggest in the world there is an opportunity to provide both exceptional service for customers as well as really meaningful work for partners.”

The news follows John Lewis announcing plans to reopen nine more stores on Thursday (25 June), following the “successful reopening” of an initial 13 stores last week.

The stores which will reopen their doors to customers on 25 June include; Cribbs Causeway, Leeds, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Peter Jones, Southampton, Tunbridge Wells and York.