John Lewis appoints Paula Nickolds as managing director
The John Lewis Partnership has announced that its commercial director, Paula Nickolds, will succeed Andy Street as managing director.
Street is leaving the business to stand in the West Midlands mayoral race.
Nickolds joined the Partnership in 1994 as a graduate trainee at the John Lewis Oxford Street store. Following that, she held a number of senior roles before joining the John Lewis management board as buying and brand director in 2013.
In her most recent role as commercial director, Nickolds has been responsible for innovation in John Lewis’s product assortment and the look and feel of its shops.
Nickolds said: “As a Partner with 22 years’ service, I know just how special the John Lewis Partnership is. Driven by our unique business model, and with innovation in our DNA, I am immensely excited to lead John Lewis on the next stage of our journey.”
Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, added: “At a time of transformation in the retail sector, Paula’s progressive and dynamic leadership is just what’s needed for the next phase of modern retailing.”
Nickolds will take up her new position from January 2017. Meanwhile, the Partnership’s operations director, Dino Rocos, will be responsible for John Lewis operations between 28 October and Nicklold’s start date as the business moves through the critical peak trading period.
