John Lewis appoints former WHSmith exec as Chief People Officer

The John Lewis Partnership has appointed Helen Webb OBE as its new Chief People Officer, effective 24 November 2025.

With over three decades of experience in senior leadership roles across retail and other sectors, Webb brings a track record in people strategy, organisational development, and cultural transformation.

She most recently served as Chief People Officer at WHSmith, where she helped navigate the business through large-scale employee and organisational changes. Her previous positions also include Chief People & Services Officer at the Co-op, as well as leadership roles at Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, and Aviva.

In her new role, Webb will join the Executive Team of the John Lewis Partnership, where she will lead the development and execution of its people strategy, support talent growth, and help nurture its employee-owned culture.

Jason Tarry, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: "I’m delighted to appoint Helen as our new Chief People Officer.

"She will be instrumental in shaping the partnership's people strategy, fostering our strong partner ethos and driving talent development. Helen will play a crucial role in nurturing our unique partner culture and ensuring the partnership remains a fantastic place to work."

Tarry also paid tribute to Jo Rackham, who has served as interim Chief People Officer for the past 18 months: "This is also a moment for me to express my huge gratitude to Jo Rackham, who has led brilliantly as interim Chief People Officer for the past 18 months.

"During this period, Jo has forged ahead with the People agenda and progressed important changes that are foundational to our work in the years ahead."

Speaking about her appointment, Webb added: "It’s an incredible privilege to join the John Lewis Partnership, a business renowned for its unique ownership model and commitment to its partners.

"I’m passionate about creating an environment where people can thrive and feel a true sense of belonging and I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on the partnership's strong foundations in the people space."

The John Lewis Partnership is the UK’s largest employee-owned business and operates two of the country’s most recognised retail brands: John Lewis and Waitrose.

John Lewis runs 34 stores across the UK and its online platform, while Waitrose operates over 300 shops across the UK and Channel Islands. The business is known for its distinctive partner model, in which all permanent employees are co-owners of the business.

Webb’s appointment is seen as a strategic step in strengthening the Partnership’s leadership as it continues its transformation journey and renews its focus on people and purpose.