Ofcom boss quits to become first female chair of John Lewis

The John Lewis Partnership has named Ofcom boss Sharon White chairman, the first woman to hold the role.

White, who has not worked in retail before, will become the retailer’s sixth chairman when current incumbent Charlie Mayfield steps down early in 2020.

White has been chief executive of the telecoms regulator since March 2015. Prior to that she held various roles in the civil service, including Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury. An economist by training, some saw White as a credible contender for Governor of the Bank of England.

Mayfield said: “I readily recognise that Sharon is not the conventional choice. But these are not conventional retail times, nor is the partnership a conventional company."

He added: “I believe she has the vision, leadership, drive and flair to steer the partnership through its next phase.”

Earlier this year, the employee-owned department store group – which includes the Waitrose supermarket chain – said staff bonuses would be cut to their lowest level in 65 years after full-year pre-tax profits slide 45% to £160m. The retailer was hit especially hard by heavy discounting at competitors, and staff received just 3% of their salary as their annual bonus, compared to 17% in 2013.

White, who is 52 and will receive a basic salary of £990,000, said: “In my current role, my vision has been to ensure that consumers in fast-moving markets get high-quality, reliable services at fair prices from thriving businesses they can trust. Social purpose and commercial success flourish best together.”

Ofcom said it will now start the process of finding White's successor, which is subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.