John Lewis has announced the appointment of Peter Ruis as executive director to lead the company.

Ruis joins the firm from Canadian book retailer Indigo plc where he worked as chief executive. Prior to that he worked at fashion brands Anthropologie and Jigsaw.

Between 2005 and 2013, Ruis worked at John Lewis, where was buying and brand director on its executive team. He has also held roles at Ted Baker and Levis Strauss Europe.

Naomi Simcock, who was interim executive director for John Lewis, has been appointed into a new role as operations director for John Lewis. She will work closely with Ruis and take responsibility for John Lewis Retail and supply chain.

“It’s fantastic to welcome Peter back to the Partnership,” Nish Kankiwala, chief executive of the John Lewis Partnership. “He has a deep understanding of customers, brands and product from his 30 year career spanning a variety of major High Street and online retailers.”

Kankiwala added: “I’d like to extend my enormous thanks to Naomi for her unwavering commitment and leadership of the John Lewis teams and business this past year. Naomi will do a brilliant job leading our retail and supply chain teams, working closely with Peter and the John Lewis leadership team.”

Earlier this year Sharon White, the current chair of John Lewis, asked the board to begin the process of appointing a new successor as she heads towards the end of her third year in the role. White will stay on for the full five-year term, ending February 2025.

---