Waitrose managing director Mark Price has taken on the deputy chairmanship of the John Lewis Partnership alongside his role at the grocer.

Price, who has been with the partnership for 31 years, will take on the extra role in August.

He replaces David Barclay who has been deputy chairman since 2007 and will remain a non-executive director until February 2014.

John Lewis Partnership chairman Charlie Mayfield said: “I am delighted that Mark will be taking up the role of deputy chairman. In his 31 years with the partnership, Mark has worked across John Lewis, Waitrose and group roles and is well placed to take on this additional leadership role at a Partnership level as we continue to grow our business.

“David Barclay has made a hugely important contribution to the partnership board and its committees. Having joined as one of our first non-executive directors in 2006, he became deputy chairman in 2007 and has played a key role in establishing our non-executive directors as an essential part of the board.”

He added: “David has kindly agreed to remain on the partnership board until February 28, 2014 to continue as chair of the remuneration committee and to assist in recruiting his successor as non-executive director.”