The John Lewis Partnership is to get its first chief executive.
The John Lewis and Waitrose group will see Nish Kankiwala take up the role on 27 March. He will report to Sharon White, JLP chairman with the group’s executive team reporting to him.
He was appointed a non-executive director of the group in April 2021.
Kankiwala has spent his career in consumer goods, beginning with Unilever before moving to PepsiCo, eventually becoming president of the soft drinks business in Europe and Africa. Having spent over 25 years in global FMCG businesses, he moved to private equity structured companies. His career spanned consumer retail; being president of Burger King International, and also as non-executive director of a large retail business in China. Other private equity roles included chairman and ceo associated with brands such as Jeyes, Tommee Tippee and Plum Baby Foods. He joined Hovis in 2014, initially as chairman and then as ceo, where he has led the turnaround of the business, before stepping down as ceo last year.
‘I’m delighted that Nish is to be chief executive. Since joining the board in 2021, Nish has developed a deep understanding and appreciation of the partnership model and has provided counsel on our transformation. He will be able to supercharge this in his new role while protecting the partnership’s ethos,’ says White.
‘Nish and I will work closely to ensure the partnership thrives for another century. The new structure allows me to focus on the preservation of the partnership model and our distinctive character, on the strategy for the partnership and our big commercial choices. Nish will draw on his significant transformation experience to drive performance and profitability day to day.’
‘It’s a great privilege to be appointed as chief executive following two rewarding years on the partnership’s board as a non-executive director. I am looking forward to playing an even fuller part in the transformation of the partnership, to be a modern business loved by customers and treasured by our partners,’ says Kankiwala.
Last month Pippa Wicks, John Lewis executive director left the chain after just under years. The Sunday Times later reported there had been a clash of cultures which lead to her departure.
