Waitrose gets new md as Mark Price to step down
Collins has worked with the partnership for 22 years, initially with John Lewis in a number of senior roles before moving to Waitrose in 2007 to establish its e-commerce business.
‘Strong leadership skills’
The partnership's chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield said: “Rob Collins has been a central figure in Waitrose's management team for a number of years and his strong leadership skills and operational success have ensured that he has been a central part of the Board's thinking on succession planning for some time.
I'm confident that he will make the step-up to the Managing Director role quickly and effectively.”
Meanwhile, after a 33 year career with the John Lewis Partnership, Price will step down as md of Waitrose and deputy chairman and leave the business April 3 2016.
Price is thought to be preparing a bid for the chairmanship of Channel 4 and is already deputy chairman at the broadcaster. Current chairman Lord Burns is to retire in the near future.
‘Passionate advocate’
Mayfield said: “Mark is pursuing new opportunities, but he will remain a passionate advocate of the partnership and its ownership model. He has had a long and distinguished career with the partnership and his leadership of Waitrose has seen outstanding success.”
As a board member for 11 years and deputy chairman since 2013, Price had played a key role in steering the partnership, added Mayfield.
Rob Collins – at a glance
- Currently Waitrose retail director, since January 2012
- Educated at Edinburgh University, where he read Business Studies and Spanish
- Spent a year working for textile giant Coats Viyella in Argentina
- Joined the John Lewis Department Store Graduate Training Scheme from University in 1993
- Held a number of senior roles in the business including: md John Lewis Aberdeen, md John Lewis Cribbs Causeway and director of selling support at the John Lewis Head Office in Victoria Street London
- Moved to Waitrose in 2007 to establish its e-commerce function with the brief of helping the business realise a key part of its multi-channel ambitions.
- April 2010 he was appointed personnel director (Waitrose)
