The partnership has recruited ex-Jigsaw boss and former John Lewis director Peter Ruis to oversee its department store business.

John Lewis Partnership has hired former Jigsaw CEO Peter Ruis to head up its department store operations. Peter will be joining as executive director and will lead the business through the next phase of its transformation.

Previously the CEO of Canadian books and music retailer Indigo, Peter has also led Anthropologie and is an ex-buying and brand director at John Lewis, where he worked for eight years before leaving the role in 2013.

Peter said: “It’s a great privilege to return to the John Lewis Partnership after 10 years. The John Lewis brand is iconic, loved and trusted by millions of customers across the UK and I’m excited to lead the next phase of the transformation.

“As the biggest employee-owned business in the UK, we have a huge opportunity to make even more of the unique partner difference to provide exceptional products and service for our customers.”

John Lewis is striving to improve performance and profitability after a challenging trading period over the last few years. Last year, chair Sharon White said the group was responding to its difficulties by increasing its target for cost savings threefold to £900m by January 2026, and would be focusing on margins and customer service as well as costs.