Rob Collins appointed new Managing Director of Waitrose
LONDON, 2015-10-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — The John Lewis Partnership announces today that, after a 33 year career, Mark Price has set out his intention to step down as Managing Director of Waitrose and Deputy Chairman and to leave the Partnership on 3 April 2016. Mark has worked with Sir Charlie Mayfield, the Partnership’s Chairman, to agree the timing of his leaving in the best interests of the Partnership.
Rob Collins, Waitrose’s Retail Director, has been appointed to succeed Mark when he steps down. Rob has been with the Partnership for 22 years, initially with John Lewis in a number of senior roles before moving to Waitrose in 2007 to establish its e-commerce business. In 2010 Rob was appointed Personnel Director and in early 2012 was appointed Retail Director.
Sir Charlie Mayfield said: ‘Mark is pursuing new opportunities, but he will remain a passionate advocate of the Partnership and its ownership model. He has had a long and distinguished career with the Partnership and his leadership of Waitrose has seen outstanding success. As a member of the Partnership Board for 11 years and Deputy Chairman since 2013, Mark has played a key role in steering the Partnership and has been a valued and trusted colleague.
‘Rob Collins has been a central figure in Waitrose’s management team for a number of years and his strong leadership skills and operational success have ensured that he has been a central part of the Board’s thinking on succession planning for some time. I’m confident that he will make the step-up to the Managing Director role quickly and effectively.’
The John Lewis Partnership – The John Lewis Partnership operates 45 John Lewis shops across the UK (32 department stores, 11 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2), johnlewis.com, 342 Waitrose shops, waitrose.com and business to business contracts in the UK and abroad. The business has annual gross sales of over £10bn. It is the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership where all 88,700 staff are Partners in the business.
John Lewis – John Lewis operates 45 John Lewis shops across the UK (32 department stores, 11 John Lewis at home and shops at St Pancras International and Heathrow Terminal 2) as well as johnlewis.com. It is part of the John Lewis Partnership, the UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership and all 30,000 John Lewis staff are Partners in the business. John Lewis, ‘Best Clothing Retailer 2015’ , ‘Best Electricals Retailer 2015’ and ‘Best Homewares Retailer 2015’¹, typically stocks more than 350,000 separate lines in its department stores across fashion, home and technology. Johnlewis.com stocks over 280,000 products, and is consistently ranked one of the top online shopping destinations in the UK. John Lewis Insurance offers a range of comprehensive insurance products – home, car, wedding and event, travel and pet insurance and life cover – delivering the values of expertise, trust and customer service expected from the John Lewis brand.
¹ Verdict Consumer Satisfaction Awards 2015
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Waitrose – the Nation’s Favourite Supermarket¹ and winner of the Best Supermarket² and Best Food and Grocery Retailer³ awards – currently has 342 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 61 convenience branches, and another 28 shops at Welcome Break locations. It combines the convenience of a supermarket with the expertise and service of a specialist shop – dedicated to offering quality food that has been responsibly sourced, combined with high standards of customer service. Waitrose also exports its products to 50 countries worldwide and has seven shops in the Middle East. (www.waitrose.com)
¹ Conlumino Awards, 2014
² Good Housekeeping Best Supermarket 2014, Which? Best Supermarket 2014
³ Verdict Best Food and Grocery Retailer 2014
Enquiries
For further information please contact:
John Lewis Partnership
Andrew Moys, Director of Communications
Telephone: 020 7592 6292
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Simon Rigby
Telephone: 020 7638 9571