John Lewis buying and brand director Peter Ruis to leave the department store after being appointed chief executive of fashion retailer Jigsaw.

Ruis leaves John Lewis after nine years at the business and will be replaced by Paula Nickolds, who will join the department store’s management board and report into managing director Andy Street.

Street said: “Peter has revolutionised our fashion, home and technology offer and led our marketing team to its first-ever Cannes Lion win. We will all be sad to see him go and wish him the very best of luck in his new role.”

Ruis joins former New Look design guru Barbara Horspool, who is product director at Jigsaw.

Nickolds, who joined John Lewis as a business graduate, will take over from Ruis on September 1. Her most recent role was buying director for home at the department store.

Street said: “Paula has a profound understanding of what makes us unique in the global retail marketplace. She is ideally placed to ensure that we continually strive for innovation in our product offering and drive forward our brand, design and customer experience.”