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Retail group John Lewis has said that the former boss of Tesco’s UK business will become its next chairman.
Jason Tarry, who led Tesco’s UK and Ireland business for six years, will take up the role in September.
It comes after the current chair, Dame Sharon White, said last year that she would be standing down at the end of her term.
Mr Tarry said it was a “great privilege” to lead the company, which also runs Waitrose supermarkets.
He will become only the seventh chairman of the retail partnership, which is owned by its employees.
John Lewis has come under increasing pressure in recent years, leading it to report losses, close stores and cut jobs.
However, last month the group reported full-year profits of £56m compared with a £234m loss the year before.
Despite this, the partnership said it would not be paying a staff bonus for the second year in a row, which is only the third time it has not paid out such an award since 1953.
Rita Clifton, deputy chairman and chair of John Lewis’s nomination committee, said: “The board extends its huge thanks to Sharon for successfully leading the Partnership through one of the most testing periods in its history – first Covid and then the cost-of-living crisis.
“She has faced the toughest decisions and overseen the partnership’s financial recovery; we are in good financial health with a return to profit, and have a strong balance sheet with record investment planned this year.”
Dame Sharon said: “I’m delighted to be handing over to Jason, who has a combination of fantastic retail experience with leadership through transformation.”
Mr Tarry had worked at Tesco for more than 33 years, with his most recent role being chief executive of the supermarket’s UK and Ireland business.
“The partnership and its brands stand for trust, value, quality and service and it’s a great privilege to be succeeding Sharon as the seventh chairman,” Mr Tarry said.
“The partnership is unique and I’ve long been an admirer of the employee-ownership model, its values and partner-led customer service.”
Zoe Mills, retail analyst at GlobalData, said: “Jason Tarry was at the helm of Tesco during the crucial development of its Clubcard loyalty scheme, taking the discounters head-on and creating a retail model that its competitors have emulated since.
“He certainly has the experience and knowhow to rejuvenate the John Lewis Partnership.”
