John Lewis appoints new trading director and creates partnership strategy role

John Lewis has appointed Simon Coble to the role of trading director, he will join the department store group from The Body Shop on 15 January.

Coble had been managing director of The Body Shop UK, adding responsibility for Europe and North America at the end of 2016. Prior to this he was with Uniqlo for five years and spent 13 years with Arcadia working across a number of its brands.

In his new role he will take on the leadership of the John Lewis trading team, including responsibility for its buying and merchandising teams, reporting to managing director Paula Nickolds, who said she was "delighted" Coble was joining the business.

"It is an important appointment for us as we continue to reinvent John Lewis and put the customer at the heart of everything we do from the design of our truly unique own brand ranges to the experiences we offer our customers that they cannot get anywhere else. We look forward to welcoming him to the team," Nickolds said.

"It's a privilege to be joining this unique organisation at such a pivotal time and I am excited at the opportunities that lie ahead. John Lewis is such a special brand and I am looking forward to being part of the team that helps shape its future commercial success in the competitive conditions currently facing modern retailing," Coble added.

Ed Connolly

Ed Connolly had been heading up the John Lewis trading team while while the recruitment process was underway and now moves to the newly created role of director of partnership strategy, reporting to Patrick Lewis, group finance director, with the responsibility for shaping and developing the long term direction and sustainability of the business.

Prior to this Connolly was buying director, fashion for three years where he led the transformation of John Lewis own brand ranges, including launching modern rarity and AND/OR.

"I would like to thank Ed for his outstanding contribution during his time leading the trading team, especially in the run up to our peak trading period and I wish him all the best in his new role," Nickolds said.