Andrew Murphy has decided to leave John Lewis Partnership, after turning 50 and feeling the “tick-tock” of the milestone birthday, prompting him to move on after 30 years with the retailer.

Andrew Murphy

Andrew Murphy said he had spent more than 11,000 days as a John Lewis partner

Murphy rose up the ranks from starting as a sales assistant to his current role as chief operating officer. 

He revealed his decision on LinkedIn, where he posted: “I’ve never dwelt on my age or anyone else’s. But there was something about hitting 50 that seemed to aggressively shatter any illusion I might have had that time — my time — was unlimited.

“Then, late last year, I started to become overly aware that — by August 2022 — I’d have been with the John Lewis Partnership for 30 years. From the gates of university. WTAF?! as my (otherwise fairly well-spoken) kids would say.”

Murphy said that he had spent more than 11,000 days as a partner, lived in 13 different houses and held 17 roles. He concluded: “To say that I consider myself fortunate is a significant understatement. But, despite that, I never wanted this to be my only — or final — gig. Tick-tock…”

Partnership chair Dame Sharon White said in a note to staff: “Andrew has been an outstanding partner and an outstanding leader. He has been incredibly kind and generous to me personally and has been a huge source of support and guidance to the board and the executive team whose memberships have been entirely refreshed during his time as an executive director. 

“From his pivotal role in establishing John Lewis as the UK’s pre-eminent omnichannel retailer, as retail director, to his leadership of the partnership as group COO, navigating us so successfully through the pandemic, we owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”

Murphy will leave the retailer next year.

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