John Lewis has hired Vikki Kavanagh as its Chief Commercial Officer.
Due to take up the position in early April, she most recently served as Managing Director of both Net-A-Porter and Mr Porter. Prior to that, she held senior buying and merchandising roles at Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser and Fenwick.
In her new position, Kavanagh will report to Peter Ruis, Executive Director of John Lewis.
He commented: “Vikki’s extensive experience and proven leadership in the retail sector make her an invaluable addition to our team. Her strategic vision and commercial acumen will be instrumental as we continue to evolve and enhance our customer offering.”
Kavanagh added: “John Lewis has a unique opportunity to redefine the UK omnichannel retail experience and I’m looking forward to working with the team to deliver an exceptional offer for our customers.”
Last week, it was revealed Kathleen Mitchell had stepped down from her position as Commercial Director at John Lewis after three years in the role.
The moves come days after it was revealed that the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) is at risk of missing its profit targets this year after relatively disappointing sales in its supermarkets and department stores over the key festive trading period.
NAM Implications:
- A new, experienced influence on redefining the UK omnichannel retail experience.
- With expectations high but a willingness to change.
- Fingers crossed…
