Published
Jun 6, 2019
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John Lewis Partnership finds new chairman in Ofcom CEO

Published
Jun 6, 2019

British department store group has revealed that Sharon White, currently chief executive of Ofcom, the UK’s communications services regulator, will become its new chairman when Sir Charlie Mayfield steps down in early 2020.


Sharon White will be John Lewis' new chairman - John Lewis


With a strong set of credentials, but no real retail experience, the company admitted that White was not “the conventional choice”, but said she stood out as an “exceptional candidate”.

“I readily recognise that Sharon is not the conventional retail choice. But these are not conventional retail times, nor is the partnership a conventional company. Sharon is an inspirational leader with the personal and professional skills to ensure the partnership continues to innovate and change while at the same time retaining and strengthening our distinctive character and democratic vitality,” said Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman.

Prior to Ofcom, Sharon White was second permanent secretary at the Treasury, responsible for overseeing the public finances and before that she held board level positions at the Ministry of Justice and the Department for International Development.

She has also worked as an adviser at the Prime Minister's Policy Unit and in Washington DC as a senior economist at the World Bank.

“Sharon White has had a stellar career in a number of senior strategic and executive roles and during a thorough, wide-ranging and extremely competitive search she stood out, both for me and for the nominations committee, as an exceptional candidate. I believe she has the vision, leadership, drive and flair to steer the partnership through its next phase,” the chairman continued.

It’s not clear exactly when Sir Charlie Mayfield will step down, but this is likely to be in early 2020. White’s basic pay will be £990,000.

Sharon White, chairman designate, said: “It is a great honour to be asked to succeed Charlie as the sixth chairman of the John Lewis Partnership.

“In my current role, my vision has been to ensure that consumers in fast-moving markets get high quality, reliable services at fair prices, from thriving businesses they can trust. Social purpose and commercial success flourish best together, which is why I am looking forward so much to working with partners as we move ahead together.”

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