James Bailey, managing director of Waitrose, will step down from his role at John Lewis Partnership on 30 September 2025 after five and a half years. Bailey played a crucial role in navigating the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.

John Lewis Partnership chairman praised Bailey’s significant transformation and growth during his tenure. The company is now searching for his successor, while Tina Mitchell will serve as the interim managing director of Waitrose.

Bailey expressed pride in Waitrose’s achievements under his leadership, citing record customer numbers, strong sales growth, and improved profitability. He believes the business is now on a strong footing for long-term success and feels it’s the right time to pass on the reins.

In April 2025, John Lewis Partnership appointed Andy Mounsey as the new chief financial officer, driving a 73% increase in pre-tax profit to £97m for the 52 weeks ended 25 January 2025. Waitrose’s sales grew by 4.4% to £8bn, mainly due to volume growth over price.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Waitrose managing director James Bailey to step down in September 2025