THE WHAT? The John Lewis Partnership has appointed Will Kernan as Managing Director of John Lewis, succeeding Peter Ruis, who is stepping down to pursue new projects.
THE DETAILS Kernan will take up the role in mid-September, having served as a Non-Executive Director on the John Lewis Partnership Board since 2023. He brings 35 years of retail leadership experience, including CEO positions at River Island, The White Company and Wiggle, as well as senior roles at New Look. He succeeds Ruis, who returned to John Lewis in January 2024 and has overseen a significant modernisation programme spanning stores, digital capabilities, brand partnerships and new propositions. Ruis will remain with the business until 6 September to support the transition.
THE WHY? The leadership change comes as John Lewis moves into the next phase of its transformation and growth strategy, following significant investment in its physical and digital retail proposition. Kernan’s extensive retail and trading experience, combined with his existing knowledge of the Partnership, positions him to continue the retailer’s development across stores and online.
Source: John Lewis
