What: Wicks joined the company in August 2020, at the height of the pandemic. Her replacement on an interim basis is Naomi Simcock, the firm’s retail director. She’s a 12-year veteran of the company and has worked across a variety of roles in both its John Lewis and Waitrose brands. She was previously with Marks & Spencer.

Why it is important: Most notably, under Wicks’ watch, the venerable Never Knowingly Undersold price-matching promise was ditched as part of the overall revamp of the John Lewis brand that she oversaw, and the successful budget Anyday own-brand was introduced.

Pippa Wicks exits John Lewis