Waitrose and John Lewis chair Dame Sharon White is to stand down in February 2025.
According to The BBC, White initiated talks with the John Lewis Partnership board to find a replacement when her current five-year term as chair ends. She will not seek a second term, which will make her the shortest-serving chair in the partnership’s history.
It is understood that White has opted to leave as she believes the worst of the cost-of-living crisis will be over at that point.
The news comes as the partnership reported a loss of £234m last year, forcing it to scrap the annual staff bonus.
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Former Ofcom boss Sharon White has not had an easy term since she took over the department store and grocery group. After outlining her transformation plan in 2020, she has had a global pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis to contend with.
Earlier this year, White suffered a major blow after narrowly winning a vote of confidence from staff.
The council, made up 61 partners, said it did not have confidence in the partnership’s performance under White’s leadership but backed her future strategy.
Just last month, White revealed her five-year turnaround plan would be delayed by two years.
