Yahoo Finance John Lewis nightmare: boss resurfaces at rival Sainsbury's
Sainsbury’s is preparing an onslaught against rival John Lewis after hiring the department store's former boss Paula Nickolds to run its £7.8bn clothing and general merchandise arm.
Ms Nickolds stepped down as managing director at John Lewis in January last year as part of a wider management reshuffle after a 25-year tenure at the company.
Sainsbury’s said Ms Nickolds will join the supermarket next month to head up its clothing business, Tu, and its general merchandise arm which includes Argos and Habitat.
It comes as John Lewis battles to retain customers after it slumped to its first-ever full year loss, forcing it to shut more stores. Rivals such as Sainsbury's are now circling the department store in a grab for market share.
Last month John Lewis launched thousands of new low-price products in a value range called Anyday in an attempt to lure customers back to its stores and website.
Pippa Wicks, who took over from Ms Nickolds to head up John Lewis last August, previously said it “will not be Argos for the middle classes” despite the focus on affordability.
Meanwhile the boss of Sainsbury's is also seeking to lure customers with lower prices and better quality.
Fran Minogue, managing partner at headhunter Clarity Search, said Ms Nickold’s appointment was a “good cultural fit” for Sainsbury’s.
Ms Nickolds takes over from Mike Luck, who is leaving after joining the supermarket 18 years ago as a graduate trainee.
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “Paula brings deep experience in product, brands and commercial leadership and she has a passion for understanding and delivering for customers.”
Ms Nickolds' shock exit from John Lewis came months after being made de facto second in command of the business in a management shake-up. The industry remains split on whether she quit or was pushed by previous chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield. She received a payout worth close to £1m.
Since then Ms Nickolds has been a senior adviser at consultancy McKinsey according to her LinkedIn profile.
