‘John Lewis will always be employee-owned’ boss pledges as staff give backing

However, the group’s partnership council was critical of the group’s performance over the past year.

John Lewis Partnership chairwoman Sharon White has won support from staff at a confidence vote over her leadership at the historic retail group (PA) (PA Archive)

John Lewis Partnership chairwoman Dame Sharon White has pledged that the historic retailer will always be employee-owned as she won support from staff at a confidence vote over her leadership.

It came after criticism following reports the group, which runs the department store chain and its supermarket arm Waitrose, could bring in outside investment and impact its employee-owned structure.

The group also slumped to a hefty loss in the latest financial year, meaning staff missed out on an annual bonus for only the second time in 70 years, and warned of potential job cuts.