The John Lewis Partnership has appointed Helen Webb as its new chief people officer, effective 24 November.

Webb, who brings more than 30 years of experience in retail and people leadership, joins from WHSmith where she held the same role and supported the business through large-scale employee changes.

She previously served as chief people & services officer at the Co-op and has also held senior roles at Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer and Aviva.

John Lewis Partnership chairman Jason Tarry said Webb would play an instrumental role in shaping the group’s people strategy and “fostering our strong Partner ethos”.

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“I’m delighted to appoint Helen to the executive team as our new chief people officer,” Tarry said. “Helen will play a crucial role in nurturing our unique Partner culture and ensuring the Partnership remains a fantastic place to work.

“This is also a moment for me to express my huge gratitude to Jo Rackham, who has led brilliantly as interim chief people officer for the past 18 months. During this period, Jo has forged ahead with the People agenda and progressed important changes that are foundational to our work in the years ahead.”

Webb said she was “privileged” to join the Partnership, describing it as “a business renowned for its unique ownership model and commitment to its Partners”.

“I’m passionate about creating an environment where people can thrive and feel a true sense of belonging and I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on the Partnership’s strong foundations in the People space,” she added.