John Lewis property director steps down
The John Lewis Partnership’s property director is set to step down from the group in November, piling on more pressure on the already-embattled leadership.
Chris Harris, whose role spans all areas of property and maintenance, will leave the partnership after five years.
During his time at the group, he secured a £500m investment from abrdn to support John Lewis’ build-to-rent business, which will see the development of around 1,000 homes on partnership sites.
This comes as the group’s senior staff faces pressure to turn the business around. In May, John Lewis’ chair Dame Sharon White survived a vote of confidence, however partners expressed their unhappiness at her leadership.
Chris Harris said: “After five wonderful years I’ve decided that the time is right for me to explore new opportunities outside of the partnership. Working for a partner-owned organisation, with purpose at its heart, is very special – and I’m particularly grateful to those partners in the property and build-to-rent teams that I have had the enormous pleasure to work with, have provided me with so much support, and have made sure that we are well set up to deliver our strategic goals.”