Department store chain John Lewis has appointed Nish Kankiwala as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), a move that is expected to have a significant impact on its supermarket brand, Waitrose. Kankiwala, who has been a non-executive director of the company since April 2021, has a wealth of experience in the industry, having previously served as the Chief Executive of bread manufacturer Hovis and holding senior positions at Burger King and PepsiCo.
Kankiwala will officially take on his new role on March 27. Although he will be the CEO, Chairman Sharon White will still retain overall responsibility for the company’s performance, purpose, and approach to business. The company’s executive directors will report to Kankiwala, who will in turn report to White.
White commended Kankiwala for his contributions to the company thus far and expressed confidence in his ability to drive it forward. She highlighted his deep understanding of the partnership model and his valuable input on the company’s transformation. She believes that he will be able to build upon this in his new role while also safeguarding the partnership’s ethos.
The new organizational structure will see White focus on preserving the partnership model and its unique character, as well as developing the overall strategy and making important commercial decisions. On the other hand, Kankiwala will leverage his extensive experience in transformation management to drive day-to-day performance and profitability.
This appointment comes at a crucial time for John Lewis, as it is set to announce its financial results later this week and has recently unveiled a new store concept layout. The fashion, beauty, home, and tech-focused departments are particularly anticipated to benefit from Kankiwala’s leadership. With his impressive background in the industry, there is optimism that he will bring fresh perspectives and drive growth for the company.
Useful links:
1. John Lewis Website
2. Waitrose Website
