What: John Lewis is restructuring its buying and merchandising teams, adding 48 new roles while consulting about the future of 20 other positions.

Why it is important: This restructuring aims to enhance John Lewis's product offerings and profit margins amid a dynamic and volatile market, reflecting the company's ongoing transformation efforts under CEO Peter Ruis.

John Lewis is undergoing a significant restructuring of its buying and merchandising teams as part of a broader transformation programme led by CEO Peter Ruis. The changes will include the creation of 48 new roles while consultations are underway regarding 20 other positions. This move seeks to re-establish individual leadership roles in the fashion and home departments. The initiative aligns with Ruis’s plans to improve the department store’s fashion offerings and profit margins, responding to a cautious market with significant cost pressures. The restructuring follows Ruis’s return to the company as executive director earlier this year and is part of his strategy to strengthen the business foundation and drive growth.

John Lewis reshapes buying and merchandising teams in transformation drive