James Bailey steps down as Waitrose as managing director after five-and-a-half years

James Bailey is to step down as managing director of Waitrose after five-and-a-half years in the role.

Bailey will leave the John Lewis Partnership on 30 September. 

Current retail director Tina Mitchell will take over as interim managing director while the partnership searches for his replacement.

“James has done an outstanding job, overseeing significant transformation and growth during a period of change,” said JLP chairman Jason Tarry. 

“He’s a great colleague and has been a highly valued member of the executive team. We will be sad to see James go but understand and respect his decision to step down after five-and-a-half years at the helm. James will leave Waitrose in a much stronger position and I know will be missed by everyone.

“I’m grateful that James has agreed to continue in the role through to the end of September, and that Tina Mitchell, retail director for Waitrose, has agreed to step up to be interim managing director once James leaves.”

Bailey joined Waitrose during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020, from Sainsbury’s where he had been buying director for grocery. 

It was a difficult first couple of years for Waitrose – hampered by high prices, availability struggles and aging infrastructure – as it lost market share to M&S. However, Bailey has turned the business around over the past couple of years, implementing a range of price cuts, a new push on loyalty and launching Waitrose’s most ambitious store expansion strategy for many years, with plans to build 100 new c-stores by 2029.

“It’s been a great privilege to lead this unique and special business and most especially to get to know all the partners who make it what it is,” Bailey said. 

“I’m very proud of everything we’ve achieved together. It’s been a lot of hard work but very rewarding and I’m so happy now to see the business thriving.  

“Waitrose is back on a very strong footing with record customer numbers, strong sales growth and a turnaround in profitability, so after five-and-a-half years this feels like the right time to hand over the reins. I feel confident that we’ve laid the foundations for long-term success and have the opportunity now to go from strength to strength.”