Annual Report and Accounts 2016


John Lewis Partnership plc


65


The Chairman


As the senior executive in the Partnership, the Chairman is ultimately responsible for the Partnership’s commercial performance.


The Chairman, currently Sir Charlie Mayfield (the Partnership’s fifth Chairman), is based at the Group offices at Partnership House in Victoria, London.


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.


The Chairman is responsible for the leadership of the Partnership Board and ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of its role. Upon taking office, the Chairman makes a written undertaking to the Partnership Council, that he will uphold the Constitution and work to the utmost of his energy and ability for the fulfilment of the Partnership’s Principles. The Chairman’s role and responsibilities are defined in the Constitution under Rules 41 to 45.


How is the Chairman accountable within the Partnership?


The Chairman is accountable to the Partnership Council, in accordance with the Partnership’s Constitution. If the Partnership 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 has a duty to actively seek to share power with other Partners, delegating as much responsibility and encouraging as much initiative as possible. The Chairman delegates his management authority for the day-to-day management and development of the core businesses to the other Executive Directors and senior management as appropriate.


What other bodies support the Chairman?


The Chairman is supported in his executive role by the Chairman’s Committee. The Chairman’s Committee meets approximately once a month. It comprises the executive members of the Partnership Board (Chairman, Group Finance Director, Group Development Director, Director of Personnel, and the Managing Directors of Waitrose and John Lewis), as well as the General Counsel and Company Secretary. The Partners’ Counsellor attends, but is not a formal member of the Committee.


The Chairman’s Committee coordinates executive responsibilities in the Partnership. It acts as a forum for executive debate within the Partnership’s senior management. Its decision-making authority stems from the extensive delegations made to individual members, rather than any formal delegated powers to the committee itself. It focuses on matters that affect the Divisions or the Partnership as a whole and the Board expects the Chairman to use it to debate such matters before it considers them. This is particularly important where it is clear that the Non-Executive and Elected Board members are looking to their Executive colleagues, either for a clear recommendation, or for assurance that the Chairman’s Committee has thoroughly considered an issue and has identified and reviewed the key areas to be surfaced in the Board’s own discussions.


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


It’s Your Voice


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