Experience: Nish joined the Partnership Board as a Non Executive Director on 12 April 2021. He was appointed as Chief Executive, remaining on the Partnership Board, on 27 March 2023. Nish brings 40years’ experience in retail and consumer brands. Nish started his career at Unilever in a number of commercial and operational roles, before moving to PepsiCo where he became President of the soft drinks business in Europe and Africa. He then leveraged this experience within private equity, including as President of Burger King International and in roles with brands such as Jeyes, Tommee Tippee and Plum Baby Foods. He joined Hovis, a business with over 130 years of heritage, in 2014, initially as Chairman and then as Chief Executive, leaving at the end of September 2022. He Is Currently The Non-executive chair at Vibrant Foods. Nish is a Fellow at the Institute of Chemical Engineers and Fellow at University College London, where he graduated in Chemical Engineering.
Other appointments: Fellow, Institute of Chemical Engineers, Fellow, University College London.
Executive Director, John Lewis
Executive Director, John Lewis
Started current role: January 2024
Experience: Peter brings with him more than 30 years of leadership experience at a number of leading retailers and brands. He was most recently CEO at Indigo plc in Canada, where he led the business as it transitioned out of the pandemic. Before that, Peter led Anthropologie’s international growth as Managing Director, and was also CEO at Jigsaw for four years.
Peter first joined the Partnership back in 2005. Over nine years he played a key role in the leadership and direction of the John Lewis brand, latterly as John Lewis Buying and Brand Director with responsibility for the commercial and marketing arms of the business. His early career was spent in buying roles at Marks & Spencer and Ted Baker, and as Brand Merchandising Director within Levi Strauss Europe.
Chief Transformation & Technology Officer
Chief Transformation & Technology Officer
Started current role: November 2022
Experience: Zak spent most of his professional career at Lloyds Banking Group, starting as an analyst, then moving onto become the Head of IT Architecture, and then the Retail CIO. In 2010 he took up responsibility as Digital Transformation Director and led the delivery of the digital bank. During 2016 Zak was promoted onto the exec committee as the Group Digital Director and helped grow the digital bank to be the biggest in the UK. In 2018 Zak took the role of Group Transformation Director and drove an end to end agile transformation across a new integrated team spanning IT delivery, business and IT architecture, data, digital, product management, business change and investment portfolio management.
On leaving Lloyds, Zak took a Digital NED role for the UK Cabinet Office and also operated as a senior advisor for McKinsey.
Executive Director, New Businesses
Executive Director, New Businesses
Started current role: February 2020
Experience: Nina was previously Managing Director of Connected Home, a global business in the Centrica Group. Nina established British Gas Connected Home in 2012, successfully leading the launch of the Hive Active Heating smart thermostat and the acquisition of AlertMe, the technology platform underpinning the company's 'Internet of Things' activities. Until October 2015, Nina was also the Commercial Director of British Gas, responsible for brand, marketing, sales, product development, customer insight and digital. Nina previously ran one of British Gas's national home services businesses, with over 1,500 field engineers, including the Dyno-Rod franchise. Prior to joining British Gas, Nina was a Partner at McKinsey & Co., working in multiple sectors and markets around the world such as media, energy and healthcare. Nina also led McKinsey's government and public sector practice.
Other appointments: Nina is a non-Executive Director of Domestic & General and has a close affiliation with the non-profit work of the Aga Khan Foundation and institutions.
Executive Director, Waitrose
Executive Director, Waitrose
Started current role: April 2020
Experience: James was until recently the Grocery Buying Director for Sainsbury's, where he was responsible for £16bn or half of Sainsbury's Group revenues. His responsibilities included buying, merchandising, product selection and supplier relationship management. During an 18-year career at Sainsbury’s his other roles included Buying Director for the £7bn Packaged Foods Division (2014-2016) and Buying Director for £4bn Chilled & Frozen Food business (2012-2014). Before Sainsbury’s he worked for three years in the financial industry, having started his career as a management trainee in the National Health Service for three years.
Other appointments: Outside of retail he is an advisor to a number of scale up food and tech companies.
Executive Director, Finance (Interim)
Executive Director, Finance (Interim)
Started current role: July 2024.
Length of time with the Partnership: 12 years.
Experience: Andy joined the John Lewis Partnership in August 2012, following 12 years at Ernst & Young where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant (now Fellow Chartered Accountant). During his time at Ernst & Young Andy worked across a number of sectors and roles working with large global clients across audit, assurance, M&A and accounting advisory projects. Andy spent the first six years of his Partnership career in a variety of senior Finance roles within John Lewis, subsequently becoming Finance Director for John Lewis & Partners. Andy become the Partnership’s Commercial Finance Director in 2019 then Corporate Finance Director in 2021 working across John Lewis, Waitrose, Financial Services and Build to Rent to drive value, before moving to become the Group Finance Director in 2023, overseeing all aspects of the Partnership’s finance function. He was appointed as the Executive Director, Finance (Interim) in July 2024.
Executive Director, People
Executive Director, People
Started current role: September 2022
Experience: Lisa has over twenty years’ experience in large multi-site retail organisations in both operational and HR leadership roles, with her career spanning PLC, Government owned and Private Equity backed organisations in both domestic and international markets. Lisa joined the Partnership from Post Office where she held the role of Group Chief People Officer, and was appointed to partner the new CEO to help evolve the organisation during a time of change. During her tenure, Lisa was also a Non-Executive Director at First Rate Exchange Services, a joint venture between Post Office and Bank of Ireland; Advisor to Post Office Insurance Board of Directors and previously held a series of HR Director roles within the Post Office Group since joining in 2018.
Lisa started on the Sainsbury’s Retail Graduate Scheme, which began with store management roles before moving into HR and Leadership Development. Her time at Sainsbury’s was followed by senior HR roles at WHSmith, which included Group Head of Learning & Development, Head of International HR and as HR Director on the Executive Committee at Wyevale Garden Centres (a Terra Firma owned business).
Lisa is passionate about supporting others to grow and develop to deliver great customer experiences. Lisa is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD), and holds a Master’s Degree in HR Management.
