Today’s news that Dame Sharon White is to step down from leading Britain’s best-known partnership next year should not come as a huge shock despite John Lewis’s reputation for boardroom longevity.
The former Treasury civil servant and Ofcom boss was an eye-catching appointment when she took over from Charlie Mayfield, who served a 13-year stint, in 2020. She arrived with no retail experience and, in truth, little has gone right since.
