John Lewis boss Pippa Wicks makes surprise exit from retailer

Her departure comes less than three years after joining John Lewis where she oversaw plans to turn the retailer around.

John Lewis said her departure followed “a period of considerable transformation of the John Lewis brand”.

Wicks, who joined John Lewis from the Co-op where she was deputy chief executive, was responsible for initiatives including the launch of the Anyday value brand and was in charge as the business shut shops in the aftermath of the pandemic and swung the axe on its Never Knowingly Undersold price pledge.

John Lewis Partnership chair Dame Sharon White said: “I am very grateful for Pippa’s contribution to John Lewis. She has been instrumental in reinvigorating the brand, launching our successful Anyday entry range, refreshing the John Lewis own brand range and repositioning John Lewis ‘for all life’s moments’.

“Under Pippa’s stewardship, John Lewis has reported record sales and was recently recognised as the UK’s best retail brand for customer service.”

Wicks said: “I am proud of the considerable transformational progress the highly talented John Lewis team has made over the past few years, especially given the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

“It has been a real privilege and honour to work for the partnership and help transform John Lewis, which is one of the most respected brands in the country.”

Wicks will be succeeded with immediate effect on an interim basis by Naomi Simcock, John Lewis’ retail director. The retailer said she “will lead the delivery of the 2023 plan and priorities for the brand”.