John Lewis managing director Peter Ruis steps down after less than three years
Peter Ruis is leaving his role as managing director of John Lewis, with Will Kernan set to take over in September.
John Lewis confirmed that managing director Peter Ruis will depart the business, having served for less than three years, to pursue other initiatives. Will Kernan, who sits on the employee-owned John Lewis Partnership board, will assume the role in the middle of September, just before the critical Christmas trading period. The announcement comes after chair Jason Tarry warned of “really tough” trading conditions in the partnership’s internal magazine, noting the impact of rising inflation and oil prices.
Ruis, who returned to John Lewis at the beginning of 2024 after leadership posts at Jigsaw and Anthropologie, previously oversaw buying and branding and guided investment in the remaining 36 stores. The retailer recently distributed a £35 million bonus pool to its 69,000 partners, the first such payout in four years. In related news, the Co-op Group disclosed that chair Debbie White is stepping down, with senior independent director Moni Mannings taking over as interim chair.
Why it matters
The leadership shift occurs as John Lewis confronts challenging market conditions and prepares for its key holiday sales period.
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