John Lewis promotes Thomas

John Lewis Partnership has promoted retail operations director Gareth Thomas to the newly created role of retail design and development director.

Thomas, who has been with John Lewis since 1979, will be responsible for the design of new John Lewis department stores, as well as the management of existing retail environments. He starts on 1 July, when retail development director Ann Humphries retires.

According to Thomas, the company has ‘ambitious expansion plans’. ‘The extensive pipeline of new shops will significantly extend our geographic reach across the UK,’ he says.

Thomas will be succeeded as retail operations director by supply chain director Patrick Lewis.