John Lewis Appoints First Female Managing Director

John Lewis has named Paula Nickolds as its new managing director, which will make her the department store's first female boss and the only woman to currently be in charge of a national high-street department store group.

Nickolds - who will succeed Andy Street at the helm of the British brand in January, reports The Telegraph - has worked for John Lewis for 22 years.

She started in the graduate training programme in 1994, working in the haberdashery department in the Oxford Street store, and became a member of the management board three years ago, having take on a number of different roles for the company, most recently commercial director.

Nickolds, who is set to embark on her new position at a challenging time - profits dropped by 31 per cent in the first half of this year - said of her appointment: “As a partner with 22 years’ service, I know just how special the John Lewis Partnership is. Driven by our unique business model, and with innovation in our DNA, I am immensely excited to lead John Lewis on the next stage of our journey."