Lisa Cherry to join the John Lewis Partnership as Executive Director for People; Nikki Humphrey to step down

WEDNESDAY 18 MAY 2022

The John Lewis Partnership has today appointed Lisa Cherry as Executive Director for People. 

Lisa, currently Group Chief People Officer for Post Office, will join the Partnership in early September. 

Lisa has more than twenty years’ experience working in large retailers in both operational and HR leadership roles, most recently at Post Office, where she was appointed to partner the new CEO to help evolve the organisation during a time of change. Lisa previously held a series of HR Director roles within the Post Office Group since joining in 2018. 

Lisa’s early career was spent in customer facing operational roles before joining the Sainsbury’s Graduate Scheme. This began in store management before moving into HR and Leadership Development. Her time at Sainsbury’s was followed by senior HR roles at WHSmith and Wyevale Garden Centres (a Terra Firma owned business).

Lisa will continue to develop and deliver the people strategy for the Partnership’s 78,000 Partners, all co-owners in the business. She will lead our work to create a people proposition that rewards and develops our Partners, provides exceptional health and wellbeing support and improves our diversity and inclusion, so we reflect the communities we serve.

Nikki Humphrey is leaving the Partnership to rejoin Virgin, as Chief People Officer for the Virgin Group.

Sharon White, Partner & Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: “I’m delighted that Lisa is joining the Partnership. She brings a wealth of experience and an impressive background in retail from her time at Sainsbury’s, WHSmith and the Post Office. Lisa has a strong sense of purpose, which makes her a great fit for the Partnership.”

“Nikki’s made a major contribution to the Partnership, working tirelessly to set the foundations for a modern, more relevant Partner proposition informed by Partners. I’m sad to see Nikki move on and she will be missed by Partners right across the business. She leaves with our best wishes.”

Lisa Cherry said: “I’m honoured to be joining the Partnership at such an important time. I’m really looking forward to leading the People team and spending time with Partners to properly understand the organisation and build on the existing plans to help shape the future.”

Nikki Humphrey said: “It’s been a difficult decision to leave the Partnership, which is a special purpose-led organisation. I’m proud of the People Team’s recent achievements, such as paying the Real Living Wage nationwide and providing market leading six-months equal parental leave. But the opportunity to rejoin the Virgin family was too good to miss.”

About the John Lewis Partnership

The John Lewis Partnership owns and operates two of Britain's best-loved retail brands - John Lewis and Waitrose. Started as a radical idea nearly a century ago, the Partnership is the largest employee-owned business in the UK and amongst the largest in the world, with over 78,000 employees who are all Partners in the business. Profits made are reinvested into the business - for customers and Partners. John Lewis operates 42 shops plus one outlet across the UK as well as johnlewis.com. Waitrose has 332 shops in England, Scotland, Wales and the Channel Islands, including 59 convenience branches, and another 27 shops at Welcome Break locations. The retailer's omnichannel business includes the online grocery service, Waitrose.com, as well as specialist online shops including waitrosecellar.com for wine and waitroseflorist.com for plants and flowers.