Meet Our Team

Started current role: March 2023

Joined the Partnership Board: April 2021

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.

Started current role: February 2023

Experience: Naomi was previously Retail Director, John Lewis, where she was responsible for shops, contact centres and the head office retail team and oversaw the Covid response for John Lewis shops. She joined the John Lewis Partnership in 2011 predominantly working in Waitrose across store development, property and retail before becoming Director of Retail Change in 2017. Highlights include leading the regeneration programme of all Waitrose shops, the launch of the property group’s sustainability targets and playing an active part in the Partnership’s Democracy as Chair of Council.
Naomi started her career in M&S joining the Young management development programme, working across shops, Finance, and Risk and Audit. Following the creation of the Business change unit to support the M&S transformation, Naomi was part of the team leading the Store of the future programme in the 2000’s which resulted in a £1bIllion investment programme. After 15 years at M&S Naomi moved to BRE as Commercial Director, where she was responsible for sustainability projects for major corporate organisations. 
Other appointments: Naomi is a member of Criticaleye, has acted as mentor through the 30% Club and was a trustee of Pure, the carbon offsetting charity. 

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.

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.

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.

Started current role: January 2021.

Length of time with the Partnership: 12 years.

Experience: Bérangère joined the John Lewis Partnership in April 2008 as Group Head of Financial Strategy, before being appointed Director, Supply Chain Development and subsequently Finance & Strategy Director and Operations Director for John Lewis & Partners. Bérangère became Executive Director, Customer Service in February 2020 and was then appointed Executive Director, Finance in January 2021, replacing Patrick Lewis. Before joining the Partnership, Bérangère spent 11 years at the Royal Mail in a number of finance, change and strategy roles, including as Finance Director of the property division.
Other appointments: Bérangère is Board Trustee at World Animal Protection - a global animal welfare charity.

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.