John Lewis Partnership plc Annual Report and Accounts 2014


55 The Chairman


What are the Chairman’s


roles and responsibilities? The Chairman must ensure that the Partnership develops its distinctive character and democratic vitality. The Partnership Board delegates management of the Partnership’s business to the Chairman and he is ultimately responsible for the Partnership’s commercial performance. He is the Chairman of the Partnership Board, by virtue of his appointment as Chairman of the Trust Company. He is also responsible for the leadership of the Partnership Board and ensuring its effectiveness on all aspects of its role. The Chairman’s role and responsibilities are defined in the Constitution.


How is the Chairman accountable


within the Partnership? The Chairman is not only accountable to the Partnership Board, in accordance with the Companies Act, but also to the Partnership Council, in accordance with the Partnership’s Constitution.


The Chairman attended four Partnership Council meetings during the year. If the Council judges that the Chairman has failed to fulfil (or is no longer a suitable person to fulfil) the responsibilities of his office, it may propose a Resolution upon the Constitution to dismiss the Chairman.


How does the Chairman delegate


his management authority? The Chairman delegates his management authority for the day-to-day management and development of the core businesses to the divisional Managing Directors and the Group Finance and Personnel operations to the Finance Director and Director of Personnel.


What other bodies support


the Chairman? The Chairman is supported in his Executive role by the Chairman’s Committee, which comprises the Chairman and the Executive Directors of the Partnership. The Chairman’s Committee meets frequently to develop strategy, business plans and budgets and to review major operational and management issues, financial results and forecasts, as well as plans for the development of the Partnership’s businesses.


In addition to formal Partnership Board meetings, the Chairman maintains regular contact with all Directors through meetings of the Chairman’s Committee and through informal meetings with the Elected, Non- Executive and Executive Directors and the senior leadership group of Partners.


Comply or explain THE ROLE OF THE CHAIRMAN


Code provision A.2.1 states that the roles of chairman and chief executive should not be exercised by the same individual, and a division of responsibilities between these roles should be clearly established and agreed upon by the board. This provision supports the Code principle that no one individual should have unfettered powers of decision.


The Constitution applies this principle by means of a number of effective checks and balances on the powers of the Executive Chairman. He is accountable separately to the Partnership Council and the Partnership Board and delegates part of his management authority as detailed below. Additionally, the Partnership Counsellor and Elected Directors, whose role is detailed on page 58, are able to monitor at first hand how the business is being run, with particular perspective of the Partners and the Constitution. All Directors have the same statutory duties.


THE JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP


OUR PERFORMANCE


GOVERNANCE


FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


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