John Lewis Boss to Exit as Retailer Grapples With Turnaround

Sharon White plans to step down as chairman of John Lewis Partnership Plc after struggling to turn around the beleaguered UK department store chain.

One of Britain’s most prominent Black business leaders, White has been trying to return John Lewis to profitability in the wake of the Covid pandemic and the country’s intense cost-of-living crisis. She attracted criticism earlier this year following reports that John Lewis — famous for being owned by its employees — was considering selling a stake to raise money.