Waitrose chief James Bailey will renounce the supermarket chain at the end of this year, said the parent group The John Lewis Partnership.
Bailey has directed the luxury grocery business as its managing director since 2020, directing the retailer through significant interruption during the pandemic and cost of living crisis.
It occurs after former Tesco executive Jason Tarry took over president of the John Lewis Association (JLP), the father owned by the supermarket brand and the department store John Lewis, last year.
JLP said he is currently “working in a process” to find a successor for Mr. Bailey.
The current retail director of Waitrose, Tina Mitchell, will assume the role of an interim managing director when Mr. Bailey is reduced at the end of September.
Bailey said: “Waitrose has returned to a very strong base with a record number of customers, a strong sales growth and a return on profitability, so after five and a half years it feels like the right time to deliver the reins.
“I feel sure we have put the bases for long -term success and we have the opportunity to force force.”
Earlier this week, the figures of the WorldPanel research firm industry indicated that Waitrose registered a sales growth of 4.8% during the three months until August 10, compared to the same period of the previous year.
Tarry said: “James has done an outstanding job, supervising significant transformation and growth during a period of change.
“He is a great colleague and has been a very valuable member of the executive team.
“We will be sad to see James go, but understand and respect his decision to resign after five and a half years to the helm.
“James will leave Waitrose in a much stronger position and I know that everyone will be surprised by all.”
