Britain‘s biggest department store group, John Lewis Partnership, have appointed Waitrose Managing Director Mark Price as its new Deputy Chairman.

Charlie Mayfield, Chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said: ‘I am delighted that Mark will be taking up the role. In his 31 years with the Partnership, Mark has worked across John Lewis, Waitrose and group roles and is well placed to take on this additional leadership role at a Partnership level as we continue to grow our business.‘

Price will become Deputy Chairman, succeeding David Barclay on conclusion of his final term in office as a non-executive director.

John Lewis, who has outperformed the wider market for the last three years, outlined its support this Monday for UK manufacturing by setting a two-year 15 per cent growth target for all sales of goods in its shops that are made in the UK.